THE Taoiseach repeated his strong support for the Government's proposed two day Dayton type conference in Belfast before the end of the month.

He described it as a "very practical proposal" designed to achieve the objective of the two governments to have all party talks before the end of February. It also came directly from the November communique, which contained a commitment by the two governments to work intensively on the matter.

He told Mr Des O'Malley (PD, Limerick East) that he would circulate details to deputies of the proposals put by the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, to Sir Patrick Mayhew.

Mr O'Malley said it was particularly disappointing that they had been rejected by a number of parties before they could be fully known. They were particularly important because of the fact that they contained the only hope for talks, given that those scheduled for the end of the month seemed a "forlorn hope."

Replying to the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, the "Taoiseach said he did not propose to publish correspondence with the British Prime Minister, given that the confidentiality of such communication should be retained.

Asked by Mr Ahern if he would agree to a Dail debate on the North, the Taoiseach said he would consider it.