THE former US Congressman, Mr Bruce Morrison, had an hour long meeting with the Taoiseach yesterday which concluded his all party briefings North and South, Geraldine Kennedy, Political Correspondent, writes.
He said afterward he hoped that initiatives would be taken soon that would provide the basis for a ceasefire, and that the discovery of IRA bomb equipment in London sharpened the focus of what could happen to destroy the opportunity for real political negotiations in the peace process.
Asked what initiatives were required, from the two governments at this time, he told journalists that the conviction needed to be conveyed from the governments that "these are the talks and that they are going to be infused with what it take to make them meaningful political dialogue".
Asked whether the two governments should take the initiative or a ceasefire should be called first, he replied that they were inter related. It was an affirmation all around that they had a process in place, with all its imperfections, and that it must work.
Referring to Sinn Fein, he said that the SF leadership wanted a ceasefire and also a fruitful peace process. "Getting there has turned out to be more difficult than predicted last February. We had a meeting that suggests that that goal remains the first goal."