The public should be told precisely what was agreed by the Irish and British governments in their recent negotiations with Sinn Féin and - indirectly - with the IRA. The proposals for a comprehensive agreement, which were published last Thursday by the two governments, are missing certain important elements. And the suggestion that photographic evidence of the arms decommissioning process was the only issue that caused negotiations to fail between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party is no longer tenable.
In the Dáil last Thursday the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Ms Harney, confirmed that a number of matters remained unresolved. Since then, the Progressive Democrats have threatened to block any deal unless the IRA commits itself to ending punishment beatings and all criminal activity.
The fact the IRA did not do so in its formal statement, in spite of repeated requests from the two governments, may not mean very much. But, then again, it may mean a great deal. Ambiguity is always the enemy of trust. And if there is to be a definitive end to all paramilitary activity, the IRA army council must make that absolutely clear to its members. There can be no place in its statement for wriggle room or weasel words.
Sinn Féin's Mr Gerry Kelly has maintained that the IRA statement is quite clear in its meaning and has accused the Tánaiste of engaging in base politics. But Mr Kelly does not speak for the IRA. And the absence of an undertaking by that organisation to instruct its members "not to endanger anyone's personal rights and safety", as outlined by the governments in their proposed agreement, is a cause for serious concern.
Down the years, republicans have made a virtue out of seeking clarification on issues of far less consequence. Now, they have an opportunity to allay public concerns and to explain exactly what they intend to do.
Apart from the proposed agreement, which was circulated to Sinn Féin and the DUP, other side-deals have been made between the two governments and Sinn Féin. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, agreed to the release of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe, in the event of all paramilitary activity coming to an end. He also undertook to appoint members of Northern Ireland parties to the Seanad on a statutory basis. And he joined with the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, in offering an amnesty to IRA members on the run. In the same way, Mr Blair is likely to have promised to balance the decommissioning of IRA weapons with a process of demilitarisation.
Too much official secrecy can be bad for democracy. Any political settlement in Northern Ireland will touch all of us. The opposition parties in the Dáil should be fully informed by the Government about what precisely was on offer and why the negotiations failed before the formal debate takes place next Wednesday.