Bruton pledges talks with SF

IF the IRA restored its ceasefire, the Government could resume discussions with Sinn Fein immediately, the Taoiseach told The Irish Times in Paris yesterday.

In this event, Sinn Fein would be, given "the full sense they are going to be taken into the talks process", Mr Bruton said.

"They might wish to avail themselves of the meetings to give confidence to the other side there will be no targeting of people, no more manufacture of arms."

Under the February 28th, 1996, communique issued with the British Prime Minister and a statement of Ground Rules published on April 16th, Britain had agreed to Sinn Fein participation in talks, the Taoiseach said.

Intensive discussion's in Belfast on the decommissioning of weapons continued, but "the difficulty with the talks is that we haven't got down to discussing the main business yet - the relations between communities in Northern Ireland, relations between Northern Ireland and the Republic and between Northern Ireland and Britain.

"Decommissioning must be, seen in the context of trust, that violence will not be used as a lever in negotiations," the Taoiseach continued.

"Senator George Mitchell made a proposal on how the decommissioning issue could be overcome. Any party coming into the talks would have to accept the Mitchell principles."