The Taoiseach dismissed reports that details of the armed attack on a security van in Dalkey last month had been suppressed.

Mr Ahern was replying to Mr Trevor Sargent (Green Party, Dublin North) who asked if he was aware of the Garda belief that the Provisional IRA was involved in the Dalkey raid and what implications that might have.

The Taoiseach said he had been informed by the Garda authorities that inquiries were continuing and investigating gardai had come to no conclusions regarding paramilitary involvement.

"I am aware that claims have been made in recent interviews that the Garda or the Government are, for some unspecified political reasons, seeking to suppress knowledge of Provisional IRA involvement in this robbery. That is totally without foundation."

The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, welcomed the Taoiseach's statement that the Government was not suppressing knowledge in the matter. "I take it that, regardless of possible political consequences, the Government would never suppress such knowledge."

He asked if the Taoiseach had examined whether it was likely the weaponry used in the raid came from IRA stocks, that it was of an AK 47 variety, which was apparently one in which the IRA specialised.

"What procedure would be used to determine whether a particular action was carried out by a particular organisation and whether such action constituted a breach of the ceasefire? Would such a judgment be made by the Garda Commissioner or would it be made politically?"

Mr Ahern said he understood the examination of arms was a part of the Garda inquiry which had not yet been reported on. "The judgment will be that of the Garda because the Government has no other source of information.

"The House will recall that in the first few days following the attempted raid, the view was that a group from a particular organisation was responsible. I have received no further information since, but the Garda has not been able to confirm it either. I assure Deputy Bruton and the House that any report made by the Garda will not be suppressed."

Mr Bruton asked if the Taoiseach was aware of reports in at least one newspaper that the Provisional IRA had acknowledged its involvement in the armed kidnap in Dungannon of Mr Fox.

Would participation in an armed kidnap, where arms were used to intimidate the person but were not necessarily discharged, constitute a breach of the ceasefire?

Mr Ahern said he regarded any act of violence as a breach of the ceasefire. "I have said that in relation to punishment beatings on a consistent basis. We have heard what the Garda and the head of the RUC have said about punishment beatings over the past number of weeks since we last discussed Northern Ireland issues here. The difficulty in all of these matters is to prove them. There are conflicting reports about who is involved."

Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said the Taoiseach and the House should note that he unhesitatingly joined with his colleagues in the Northern Assembly and other opinion in appealing to those responsible, regardless of who they might be, to end punishment beatings.

Mr Ahern thanked Mr O Caolain for his remark, adding that it was helpful.

The Taoiseach, who was replying to questions on the North, was asked by the Labour deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, if he was confident that the establishment of the executive in shadow formation would be achieved by February 15th, less than two weeks away.

Mr Howlin said he was asking the question in the light of the upbeat comments made by the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, in Dublin over the weekend.

Mr Ahern replied: "I have no reason to be either upbeat or downbeat following anything that happened over the weekend." He added that he was satisfied all parties and political representatives were endeavouring to find ways to meet the deadline, not so much that of February 15th but that of March 10th, and to find ways through or around the impasse.

Mr Howlin said the Taoiseach seemed to be implying that he was not terribly anxious about the deadline for the establishment of the executive, and rather looked to the March 10th deadline for the transfer of powers.

Mr Ahern replied that it would be desirable to have a resolution tomorrow, but February 15th was the date on which the First Minister and Deputy First Minister would make their report to the Assembly.

"I am not sure that date will bring a resolution of the other matters - I do not think it will. It would be nice if there was a resolution, but we have to try to get a resolution between that date and the end of February."

On punishment beatings, Mr Ahern said the number had declined last year, compared to the previous year, but still amounted to 200 per annum.

"Information shows that not all punishment beatings are linked to paramilitary bodies. A large proportion is split between loyalists and republicans, but many more are not connected with either group and are undertaken by communities or individuals, which is also in no way acceptable."