There is "strong suspicion" in Northern Ireland that some ministers in the Irish government 30 years ago played a role in helping create the Provisional IRA, it was claimed in the British House of Commons today.
During questions on forthcoming parliamentary business in the Commons, Mr Roy Beggs (UUP Antrim East) pressed the British government for a debate on documents from the Foreign Office released last week under the 30-year rule.
Mr Beggs said the documents showed British Ambassador to Ireland Mr John Peck commenting on the aftermath of the 1970 arms trial in the Republic in writing to the then Foreign Secretary, Sir Alec Douglas Home.
He said the letter read: "Whatever the verdict, if Mr Haughey was not part of the conspiracy he was at any rate up to the neck in a scheme to import arms illegally."
"In today's Irish Independentit is reported that senior Garda officers reported on a meeting between Charles Haughey, former Irish prime minister, and the senior IRA man months before the arms crisis rocked the Government, according to documents held in the Dáil," Mr Beggs said.
He asked Leader of the Commons Ms Margaret Beckett: "Would you give time to debate on the content of these documents and any additional information made available from the Irish Republic?
Mrs Beckett said: "I was not aware of the issue. I have no doubt they will be the subject of much analysis and discussion. Although you do raise issues of substance and weight I can't find time for a debate in the near future."
PA