THE Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, has no intention of reprimanding the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, for suggesting that Sinn Fein should be allowed into all party talks next Monday in the absence of an IRA ceasefire.
Mr Reynolds told The Irish Times yesterday that allowing Sinn Fein into "preliminary" all party talks on Monday before another IRA ceasefire presented the best chance of securing peace.
His comments, repeating views first expressed at the weekend, are not in line with Fianna Fail policy, which demands that an IRA ceasefire precede Sinn Fein involvement in all party negotiations. A party spokesman said last night he had no comment" to make on the matter.
Emphasising that he wanted to see a full and permanent IRA ceasefire without delay, Mr Reynolds said yesterday that if the IRA refused to call one after the preliminary phase of talks, then Sinn Fein could be ejected. If the existing defacto ceasefire broke down after all party talks began, Sinn Fein would also have to leave the talks, he said.
"But they should be allowed into the preliminary discussions in an effort to break the logjam and speed up the consolidation of the peace," Mr Reynolds added.
He urged the parties to adopt the strategy in South Africa which had not concentrated on ceasefires or decommissioning but "brought results in the end".
"Time is being lost, and the closer we get to the British general election, the less is going to happen in the peace process. It will slip down the British government's agenda because it is not an issue there," he said.
Fianna Fail sources said Mr Reynolds was entitled to state his views on Sinn Fein's entry to talks, but there would be no official comment on his sentiments.