THE Taoiseach has renewed his call on the British government to listen to the concerns of the surviving victims of Bloody Sunday.
Speaking before a group of senior members of the US House of Representatives at the weekend, Mr Bruton said: "Those who have been victims of violence must, first and foremost, be heard. That is why the victims of Bloody Sunday must be heard. Only when victims have been heard can forgiveness begin."
His comments appear to indicate a move closer to a call for a new inquiry into Bloody Sunday events. Earlier this month Mr Bruton sought an apology for those killed on Bloody Sunday but did not call for a new inquiry.
The US congressional delegation, led by Republican Congressman Ben Gilman, consisted of members of the House Committee on International Relations, who were on a two day fact finding visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic.
In what appeared to be an effort to ensure the loyalist paramilitary ceasefire remained in place, the US delegation heard Mr Bruton reaffirm the Government's "scrupulously even handed" approach to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
"We do not want to be portrayed as providing political excuses of any kind for violence like the killing of Stephen Restorick in Bessbrook or of Jerry McCabe in Adare," he said.
In response, Mr Gilman, who is chairman of the international affairs committee, said the committee had been encouraged by the desire for all party talks which it found in Northern Ireland and said that Sinn Fein should be part of those talks. He also said that the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, was ready to call another ceasefire.
"From our talks with Gerry Adams, he seems to be ready to call for a cessation provided he is able to get back to talks at an early date," said Mr Gilman.
However, Mr Bruton ruled out any possibility of talks with the republican movement as long as the IRA continued its campaign of violence. "The Government will not enter into political consensus, fronts or alliances of any kind with those who retain the option of violence for political ends," he said.
He said political efforts to seek peace would continue, even without an IRA ceasefire, and that neither participants in the peace talks nor those who have excluded themselves from participation had a veto over progress. "Progress will be easier to achieve if there is peace," he said.