THE PROSPECTS for the all party talks in the North and the need to avoid another Drumcree standoff in July will be discussed by the Taoiseach and the new British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, at their first meeting, expected on Thursday.
The meeting, according to a Government source, will be a "reconnaissance mission", allowing Mr Bruton to explain his view of Northern Ireland issues and to gauge Mr Blair's attitude to them. The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, is due to attend, and the new Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, is also likely to be there.
Government sources believe the announcement yesterday by Dr Mowlam of a number of "confidence building measures" may provide further encouragement to the IRA to call a ceasefire. Dr Mowlam listed RUC reform and working for employment equality as being among her priorities.
The sources hope the IRA will see the opening days of a new British government with a huge majority as the best opportunity for Sinn Fein to become involved in the political process, and will therefore call a ceasefire.
There is considerable speculation that the new British government is considering conceding a fresh inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday. The dossier of evidence on the subject, being compiled by Irish officials, is likely to be completed shortly.
The Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, yesterday called on the newly elected Sinn Fein MPs "to exert all possible pressure on the Provisional IRA to call an immediate, total and unconditional cessation of all violence".
He said be believed the pieces were now "falling into place to significantly move the peace process forward, but the missing crucial element is an IRA ceasefire.
"A new Labour government in Britain with an authoritative political mandate, a new and energetic Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Mo Mowlam, and the impressive mandate won by David Trimble and the Ulster Unionist Party in the elections are all grounds for optimism that when the allparty talks resume in June there could be a new impetus that will move the process forward significantly.
"However, the shadow of Drumcree and continuing IRA violence hangs ominously over all this. An IRA ceasefire is required to enable Sinn Fein to meet the conditions for participation in the talks: rejection of violence and acceptance of democratic principles".