PDs ease stance on reopening dialogue with Sinn Fein

The Progressive Democrats have "moderated" their position on the reopening of official dialogue between the Government and Sinn Fein.

A party spokesman stated yesterday that there was no difference between Fianna Fail and the PDs on the holding of meetings between Government officials and Sinn Vein if there was a prospect of an IRA ceasefire. "There is only a difference of emphasis," he added.

He did not want to deal with the apparent U turn in 24 hours in the party's stance on the issue. "I don't want to go over old ground", he said.

The same spokesman had argued on Wednesday night that a ceasefire should come before the reopening of official dialogue with Sinn Vein. He was commenting on the statement by the Fianna Vail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, following his meeting with Mr Gerry Adams, that "present opportunities" made "a strong case for the two governments to reopen dialogue at official level with Sinn Fein, if they have not already done so".

In an effort to dismiss reports of differences between the two prospective government partners on "the issue, the PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, said yesterday that she would leave no stone unturned to restore the peace process. "If intermediaries have to be used, they will be used," she added.

The spokesman explained later that Government officials and churchmen would be seen as intermediaries.

Asked about the constant calls by the PDs for the closing down of official channels of communication with Sinn Fein over many months, the spokesman repeated that there was a difference only of emphasis in their position.

Both Fianna Fail and the PDs, he said, agreed that there would be no ministerial contacts with Sinn Fein before a ceasefire. If, in government, they got reports that there was a prospect of a ceasefire, they would see it as justifiable that civil servants should meet to stand up such reports. They could also meet to see if the grounds did exist for a new ceasefire.

The PD spokesman pointed out that, on such matters, the party agreed with the Government's stance.