MR GERRY Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness have deplored the decision by the Taoiseach Mr Bruton, not to meet senior Sinn Fein figures until the IRA ceasefire is restored.
Mr McGuinness, speaking in Ballina, Co Mayo yesterday also stated that he has no case at the moment to put to the IRA to get it to call off its military campaign. Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness again demanded a start to all party talks.
Mr McGuinness, the Sinn Fein ardchomhairle member, said he was very disappointed with Mr Bruton's remarks, which were in contrast to the stance adopted by the government of former Taoiseach Mr Albert Reynolds, which met Sinn Fein before the ceasefire.
"What we needed before Friday night's tragic events was a negotiated peace settlement. What we need still is a negotiated peace settlement," Mr McGuinness said at a commemoration for republican hunger striker Frank Stagg.
In unscripted remarks, Mrs McGuinness is reported as adding that he did not have a case to put to the IRA to try to persuade, it to reactivate its ceasefire. Sinn Fein would "not bend the knee" to the British government, he said.
Mr McGuinness said he did not care who he met as long as there was continuing contact with the Irish Government.
He said that the IRA had acted courageously and imaginatively over the past 18 months in creating "the greatest opportunity"
since partition to resolve the conflict and secure a lasting peace settlement.
Mr Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein leader, said he was disappointed that the Dublin Government would not meet him. Dublin needed to meet Sinn Fein in order to work out a way of salvaging the peace process.
