PLANS to send a Fine Gael delegation to observe events in Derry at the weekend have been cancelled at the request of the Taoiseach and party leader, Mr Bruton.
Speaking from France, where he is on holiday, Mr Bruton had made "a very strong request" to the party "members involved to call off their trip, "particularly in the light of the most recent developments", a Fine Gael spokesman said yesterday.
Mr Bruton did not want Fine Gael to be seen as partisan comprehensive negotiations had been taking place locally and now the Secretary of State (Sir Patrick Mayhew) had intervened, so people from outside, no matter how well meaning, could not add anything to the process of trying to find a resolution, the spokesman said.
However, four members of the Parliamentary Labour Party will observe the marches, and Fianna. Fail is also planning to send a group.
The deputy leader of Fianna Fail urged the Taoiseach to send "Ministers and/or Ministers of State" to Derry on Saturday on behalf of the Government. "It would be a very useful exercise and would send a very clear message that the Irish Government was interested in the station," Ms Mary O'Rourke said.
The Labour delegation will consist of three TDs, Mr Joe Costello, Mr Declan Bree and Mr Tommy Broughan, as well as Senator Sean, Maloney.
