Government pessimistic about early restoration of ceasefire

THE Government and opposition leaders are pessimistic about any early prospect of restoring the IRA ceasefire after weekend assessments of the implications of the sudden return to violence.

Despite the Taoiseach's absolute determination "to reinstate the peace process", Government sources last night confirmed no firm strategy has been put in place to resolve the crisis.

Differences have emerged between Mr Bruton and the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, over the Government's decision not to meet Mr Gerry Adams in the wake of the breakdown of the ceasefire. Mr Bruton went out of his way yesterday to state that the door of communication between Sinn Fein and Government officials would remain open.

The Taoiseach had a 30 minute phone conversation with the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, yesterday afternoon in which the two leaders confirmed their intention to hold the planned Anglo Irish summit later this month. An immediate meeting had to be ruled out because of the publication of the Scott report on arms sales to Iraq. It is understood the summit will be held, probably in London, between February 19th and February 29th.

Three points were agreed during their "constructive" conversation. The priority was the immediate end to violence and the restoration of the ceasefire.

The next step in the peace process should be to work towards achieving the aim of all party talks. It was also agreed they would "stay in touch" before the summit.

Mr Major will make a statement in the House of Commons on the crisis this afternoon.

In Washington, a senior US official said the White House is working on the assumption that the IRA bomb was a "once off", and it will intensify its efforts during the week to get the peace process back on track.

Meanwhile, the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, who brokered the cessation of violence almost 18 months ago, told The Irish Times yesterday that he would be seeking a meeting with Mr Adams this week to make his own assessment of the situation. He had already spoken to him by telephone.

Following a five hour Cabinet sub committee meeting on Saturday, Mr Bruton announced he would not have any further talks with Mr Adams until there was a new and permanent IRA ceasefire. "Only those who take no part in violence, in the threat of violence, or in the support of violence, can take part in democratic negotiations", he said.

The Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, has been asked to bring security recommendations to the Government within the next couple of days, though no precipitate action on prisoners or the broadcasting ban is envisaged.

Mr Ahern, who was briefed by the Coalition leaders on Saturday night, said he believed the Government should have one meeting with Mr Adams. "I understand the procedure that Governments do not meet Sinn Fein in a formal position and I wouldn't argue with it."

Asked if he would be meeting Mr Adams, he responded that he would have to consider it. "I have been speaking to Mr Adams and a number of other republican leaders on the telephone over the weekend", he added.

Mr Ahern will meet the US ambassador, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, this morning to call for the appointment of Senator George Mitchell as an envoy to Ireland.

The Taoiseach, in an RTE interview yesterday, was more critical of the unionists and the British government than at any stage during his stewardship of the peace process.

The considered view in Government and opposition circles at the weekend was that the IRA decision to end the ceasefire had been precipitated by Mr Major's implicit rejection of the Mitchell report last month.

. Mr Adams and Mr Ahern spoke on the telephone yesterday about the necessity of restoring the peace process and ways of doing so, Sinn Fein said.