THE peace process "remains tantalisingly close to the restoration of a full peace", but also "dangerously close to a total breakdown", the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, said in response to heightened expectation of a new IRA ceasefire.
Speaking at the Labour Party's regional conference in Galway, Mr Spring said much hard work had been done to create the necessary conditions of trust and inclusion to encourage Sinn Fein to cross the bridge to peace. "I believe the time has come for Sinn Fein to make the leap."
He added: "We all know that the road ahead is a hard one, and that you can't build trust through words alone. But the people of Northern Ireland and indeed the people of this entire island would all rejoice at the prospect of a Christmas this year without violence or without the threat of violence."
A decision by Sinn Fein to ask the IRA to lay down its arms and allow this generation not to repeat the mistakes of the past would be a powerful message of peace and hope with which to start the new year of 1997, said Mr Spring.
Speaking to The Irish Times Mr Spring reiterated that while both sides were not very far apart, risks - would have to be taken and courage displayed.
He declined to indicate what matters Sinn Fein needed clarification on from the British government. He admitted, nevertheless, that "there have been suggestions that the British government might clarify matters on how they read the situation post ceasefire".
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/7bdd046e-0ba3-4e15-94ca-bf7c8eaa9dac.png)