The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has spoken of his bewilderment at the allegation by the former Sinn Féin administrator, Denis Donaldson, that he was a British spy.
The revelation came just a week after the dropping of charges against Mr Donaldson and two other men accused of being part of a republican spy ring at Stormont in 2002.
The Taoiseach was asked about the issue in the early hours of this morning at a news conference following the EU budget talks in Brussels.
He said he wanted to hear from all sides about what went on.
It was the Taoiseach's first comment on the affair since Mr Donaldson told RTÉ that he had been an informer for more than two decades.
Mr Donaldson yesterday owned up to working for British intelligence and for police in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, unionists have demanded a public inquiry after Sinn Féin expelled the senior party official.
The Ulster Unionists said a public inquiry was now essential to explain the events.
The Democratic Unionist Party has also demanded more information.
