THE Irish and British governments finalised agreement on the framework for all party talks in London late last night when the decided to give the former USA senator, Mr George Mitchell, "a key over arching role" in the entire process.
The breakthrough was made by, Anglo Irish officials after 10 p.m. It was sanctioned by the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, and the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, and sealed in a 20 minute telephone conversation between the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, and the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major.
The framework for all party talks, including the agenda, procedures, decommissioning and the role for Senator Mitchell, will be announced in London later today.
Few details of the deal were available in Dublin last night. It is understood, however, that Senator Mitchell's "over arching role" will effectively give him a central involvement in the negotiating process. He will be assisted by his two former colleagues on the International Body on Decommissioning, Gen John de Chastelain and Mr Harri Holkeri, who will be active in strands of the talks where independent chairmen will also be required.
Following yesterday's impasse over the role of Senator Mitchell Anglo Irish officials spent the afternoon circulating draft papers between London and Dublin.
A Government spokesman said last night that Mr Bruton's conversation with Mr Major had been "positive and constructive" The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister had expressed satisfaction with the progress made by Mr Spring and Sir Patrick in resolving the outstanding issues, according to the spokesman.
Confirmation of the agreement is expected to come at a joint press conference in London this afternoon to be hosted jointly by the Tanaiste and the Northern Ireland Secretary.
Pressure on the governments to reach agreement increased yesterday evening following the IRA's starkest warning yet that it will not disarm ahead of a negotiated settlement and that "the likelihood of any ceasefire is remote in the extreme".
After a day of frantic diplomatic activity which saw the Taoiseach hold "secret" talks with the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, in London Irish sources had reported a slightly happier mood".
While the Tanaiste accompanied the President, Mrs Robinson, to a dinner in her honour at the Guildhall in London last night, Irish officials continued to work on a series of fresh drafts, consulting with Mr Paddy Teahon, Secretary to the Department of the Taoiseach, who maintained regular contact with his British counterparts at 10 Downing Street.
When British and Irish officials met for a breakfast meeting in London yesterday the expectation had been that Mr Bruton and Mr Major would speak before lunchtime and that Mr Spring and Sir Patrick would announce the details of the proposed approach to negotiations at a press conference in the afternoon.
However, hopes of an early breakthrough faded amid accusations that Mr Major had "unpicked the language" on the key issue which Dublin thought had been agreed after more than four hours of talks between Mr Spring and Sir Patrick on Tuesday night. But Downing Street last night dismissed this charge, a spokesman saying "Nothing is agreed when it's ad referendum to leaders."
According to Irish sources, a position paper detailing Senator Mitchell's proposed role as chairman of the "plenary" sessions of the negotiations was referred to Downing Street for overnight consideration. However, when the British and Irish officials reassembled yesterday morning the Irish delegation was reportedly told that the paper was unacceptable" and that an alternative was being produced.
The British draft, in turn, failed to satisfy Dublin's need for assurance that Senator Mitchell's role, in effect as overall chairman of the process, would not be constrained or whittled away.
One close participant in the process last night said that the British had to decide whether Mr Mitchell was be invited to play a role as chairman of a strand or "as a peacemaker".