THE British government should give an unequivocal statement to the IRA outlining its proposed response to "an unequivocal" IRA ceasefire, the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, has told a party "fund raising meeting in New York.

Speaking at the annual Fianna Fail dinner dance at the Pierre Hotel last night, Mr Ahern called for the immediate reinstatement of the IRA ceasefire which, he "said, was "essential" to the peace process.

In the aftermath of a renewed ceasefire, Sinn Fein should be admitted to talks "pronto" he told The Irish Times. The time frame for talks should be limited to one to two years, he said, adding that the Mitchell principles were essential to the negotiations.

"We have a respected US envoy and his report, which was a masterpiece, will form the basis for the future no matter what role George Mitchell plays in the new US administration," Mr Ahern said. "The peace process is not dead and we have to look to the future".

The attendance included six former government ministers and a representative from each of the 41 constituencies in Ireland. The former Taoiseach, Mr Reynolds, flew to New York from London on Concorde for the dinner. Former President Dr Patrick Hillery also attended.

Others present included the Fianna Fail TD, Ms Sile de Valera actor Richard Harris and author Edna O'Brien.

The dinner, according to Mr Ahern, was Fianna Fail's second last event in its 70th anniversary year. "To end up in the States, which was so important to the party in its early years, is fitting," he said. The dinner co-ordinator, Ms Anne Tarrant said there was no target set for fund raising, but over 500 people were expected.

Individual tickets to the event cost $350.