RETAINING official contact with Sinn Fein was described by the Taoiseach as "a matter of fine judgment".

Mr Bruton said the Government was allowing the possibility of communication for the sole purpose of achieving a credible ceasefire by the IRA. He was not aware that there had been any contact with Sinn Fein by any officer of the Government since the Lisburn bombing, although he could not say that categorically.

He was replying to the PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, who renewed her call to the Government to break off official contacts with the party.

Ms Harney asked the Taoiseach if he accepted that the statement from the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, that his party was prepared to go the extra mile, was meaningless unless it was accompanied by a renewed IRA ceasefire. "Yes", replied Mr Bruton.

The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, pressed the Taoiseach to say if there would be a time scale for Sinn Fein joining the multi party talks in the event of an IRA ceasefire and, acceptance of the Mitchell principles.

Mr Bruton said the legislation stated that the invitation to participate in the talks must be based on the party fulfilling the ground rules. The relevant portion was that the party establish a commitment to exclusively peaceful methods and abide by the democratic process.

The party would also have to comply in full - "in reality and in conviction" - with the Mitchell principles, not simply "as some formula to be adopted for a tactical purpose".

Mr Bruton said the agreement reached in Belfast on Tuesday was very much a step in the right direction in advancing the multiparty talks process.