THE Taoiseach refused to be drawn on the political fall out from Mr John Major's narrow victory in Monday night's crucial Commons vote.

Mr Bruton said he would not comment on the positions adopted by particular parties or the attitude of other governments to them. "We want negotiations in which everybody will take part, and therefore I do not put a high value on recrimination."

He was responding to the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, who asked if he welcomed the first sign in a year that the British government was not prepared to accept the proposal of the Ulster Unionist Party to have a debating assembly in the North.

The Taoiseach said intensive efforts had continued during the past week to secure the restoration of the IRA ceasefire and the commencement of all party negotiations. In particular, the Government had been focusing on the objective of an agreement on a specific date for the beginning of negotiations.

Asked by Mr Ahern if it was the intention that any date fixed for all party talks would be resolutely adhered to, the Taoiseach said "Oh, yes it would be the intention that would, of course. This would be a commitment we would seek and cope to obtain."

Answering questions on Northern Ireland in the House at 2.30 p.m., the Taoiseach could pot say if he would meet Mr Major today. "I am working with a view to having a summit at the earliest possible date. My objective in going to such a summit is to have agreement on a specific date for the opening of all party negotiations." He would be consulting Mr Major later in the evening.

He believed, he said, that a con of views was now emerging between the two governments on how the various ideas for progress could be accommodated in the context of agreement on a specific date for negotiations.

The Government had also been keeping in close contact with the Northern Ireland parties. He reiterated his invitation to the two main unionist parties to have talks with the Government.

Mr Bruton said his meeting with Mr John Hume last Wednesday had been very useful and they had maintained almost daily contact since then. The Government was examining Mr Hume's suggestion for referendums North and South on non violence and all party negotiations.

There had been contact at official level with Sinn Fein and the Alliance Party. He would be happy, he said, to have a meeting with the Alliance Party at a mutually suitable date. He had also discussed the situation with President Clinton by telephone on two occasions, and he was keeping him informed of progress.

Asked by the PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, if it would be necessary for parties in the North to endorse the Mitchell principles after an election Mr Bruton said this was one of the issues currently under negotiation.