THE Taoiseach has given a strong signal that he will not permit any further meetings between Government officials and Sinn Fein following the discovery of a landmine in Belfast on Saturday.
Speaking to journalists after a campaign rally in Dublin yesterday, Mr Bruton said repeatedly that he would have to "think very hard" before allowing further cotact between the two sides.
"If there was a genuine prospect of an imminent ceasefire, it was reasonable to authorise a meeting but, if what we are talking about is a sort of phoney ceasefire or a pretend deescalation while threats are still being made by inference or by action, then we are not talking about a real ceasefire.
"I will have to think very carefully now about this matter in the light of the suggestion that the IRA have been involved in an action that was potentially threatening," he said.
Government officials have had at least two meetings with Sinn Fein since the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, authorised the go ahead for similar discussions between the Northern Ireland Office and Sinn Fein two weeks ago. Mr Bruton's renewed hardening of attitude appears to put him at odds with Mr Blair.
Asked if Mr Blair should think again before allowing further meetings on his side, the Taoiseach said he would not purport to give advice to others.
With five days to go to polling in the general election, Mr Bruton's reassertion of a tough approach to Sinn Fein threatens to bring the North onto the political centre stage. As Mr Adams accused the Taoiseach of mismanaging the peace process, the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, called on the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, to clarify his position on "electoral support for Sinn Fein".
Fianna Fail sources denied Mr Ahern had suggested electoral support for Sinn Fein, saying Mr De Rossa's assertions were based on a comment by one journalist in a Sunday newspaper.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said Wednesday night's planned televised debate between himself and Mr Ahern has come "too late" because it is "so close to polling".
Fianna Fail last night demanded an apology from the Taoiseach for his "unfounded charges" against Mr Ahern in relation to his challenge for a second debate.
RTE two weeks ago proposed to the Taoiseach that a debate take place on yesterday's edition of This Week but the offer was turned down and the plan was changed to incorporate two separate interviews with Mr Bruton and Mr Ahern.
Fianna Fail's environment spokesman, Mr Noel Dempsey, said the editor of This Week, Gerald Barry, had said Mr Bruton had previously turned down the debate which he "subsequently chose to make such an issue of".
A Fianna Fail spokesman said the party had "discovered in media reports at the weekend that the Taoiseach had been offered a debate but had point blank refused it . . . it is hypocrisy", the spokesman added. Mr Bruton told The Irish Times such a radio debate had been suggested but he did not "have a strong view on it at the time". However, as the election campaign proceeded, it became clear there was no real debate at all so he "issued a challenge" to Mr Ahern.