Reynolds hopes to see Adams

THE former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, will be seeking a meeting with the president of Sinn Fein, Mr Gerry Adams this week to make his own assessment of the state of the peace process.

Mr Reynolds told The Irish Times he wanted to know exactly what the position was now. "I am anxious to get the peace re established again."

The London bombing was a terrible tragedy, Mr Reynolds said. He had never believed violence could achieve the results republicans wanted to achieve. The position remained that, at the end of the day, only dialogue and debate could solve the problem.

Asked if he agreed with the Government's decision not to meet Mr Adams, Mr Reynolds said he had never from the start criticised the way the Government was handling the peace process, in order to ensure that nationalist Ireland spoke with one voice. There had, however, to be a way found to keep communications open, he added.