SECRET meetings between Mr Michael Mates MP, the former Northern Ireland minister, and Sinn Fein, have evidently failed to achieve a breakthrough in the peace process.
However, in spite of protests from unionist sources, Mr Mates said he was prepared to attend further meetings with Sinn Fein if there was a chance of contributing to peace.
One of those involved in the contacts, the Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, last night told The Irish Times he did not believe the IRA ceasefire would be reinstated under what he termed the present "coercive conditions".
Mr Mates said: "What will happen as a result of this news breaking today I don't know, but I am willing to go anywhere, do anything, talk to anybody if there is the slightest chance that it will be helpful in keeping the peace."
The East Hampshire MP stressed that his talks with Sinn Fein had not been as an "emissary of the government", they had not been London inspired, they were not, as some had claimed, an attempt to bolster Mr Major's fortunes and they were not at the request of the British government.
Mr McLaughlin confirmed that he and a colleague had two meetings with Mr Mates last September, and again in February following the Docklands bombing. The colleague was later reported to be Mr Gerry Kelly. While they had been "beneficial" Mr McLaughlin said Mr Mates "didn't persuade us of the bona fides of this British government".
Downing Street and the Northern Ireland Office last night would admit to knowledge of only one meeting. But a spokesman for Mr Major's office denied press reports that the Prime Minister had sanctioned the opening up of "a secret new channel of communication with the IRA", using Mr Mates as a go between.
The spokesman said: "Mr Mates has not been carrying out any meetings at the request or on the initiative of the government."
That assertion was repeated by Mr Michael Ancram, the Political Development Minister.
Speaking on RTE, Mr Ancram said: "There was a meeting, as I understand it, with Michael Mates and a member of Sinn Fein. He kept us informed as to what was happening. It was not a meeting instigated by the British government and the British government are not in negotiations with them in that way.
"This was not the British government in contact. This was a private meeting between a Conservative MP and a leading member of Sinn Fein, and that Conservative MP quite rightly informed us of that meeting."
Mr McLaughlin said Mr Mates had stressed he was acting in an individual capacity. But other sources last night acknowledged that ministers had been made aware of his contacts in advance. It is understood the Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, contacted senior unionist MPs yesterday assuring them that Mr Mates, the former security minister at Stormont, had been engaged on what one termed "a private enterprise".
Sinn Fein sources insisted they had not initiated the meetings, and confirmed the involvement of a third party who had previously played a part in the peace process.
Mr Mates is known to be close to government thinking on Northern Ireland and is seen by leading republicans as authoritatively reflecting Conservative thinking on the North. But he appears to have made no concession to Sinn Fein demands for the recognition of its electoral mandate or for a lifting of the ban on ministerial contact following the end of the IRA ceasefire.
Mr McLaughlin said Mr Mates had "clearly defended the decision not to talk to us" and did not "concede" the case made for the re establishment of ministerial contact with Sinn Fein. Asked if Mr Mates had been able to offer any reassurance about the conduct of the all party negotiations due to begin on June 10th, Mr McLaughlin said the former minister had "offered opinions" but these "were not regarded as authoritative".
The Rev Ian Paisley reacted furiously. "Nothing would surprise me about what this government would do," said the DUP leader. "It has been found out in the past doing the most evil of things, betraying Northern Ireland behind the backs of the Northern Ireland people."