THE deputy leader of the SDLP, Mr Seamus Mallon, said yesterday he had no doubt that "almost an amalgam" of the four proposals for the future of the peace process currently under suggestion - referenda north and south of the Border, NI elections, proximity talks and the involvement of US Senator George Mitchell - was how the peace process would progress.
The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said he agreed with Mr Mallon's analysis. Proximity talks were likely to be "dovetailed" into whatever was eventually agreed.
Mr Mallon, speaking on RTE's Questions and Answers last night, said proximity talks were now the only "umbrella" under which the various proposals could be discussed, and the only way to get all parties into the same building. Governments would not have to meet with parties if they did not want to, it could be done by officials.
The parties might, under the umbrella of such talks, agree on elections, but these elections would have to have broad support. There might then be a possibility of getting directly into "all party negotiations, not talks, negotiations." The negotiations would have to be "based on the three strand approach, with the Irish Government playing a central role," Mr Mallon said. "There is a germ in what I am saying, and I think if you listen carefully to what the prime minister was saying today, he was widening his umbrella as well."
However, Mr Mallon said he did not think Mr Major could "deliver" the unionists. What the unionists wanted was an elective process into a body within which they would refuse to negotiate until there was decommissioning.
Ms Sile de Valera said it would be "of tremendous help" if Mr Mitchell, could act as a peace envoy.