THE Taoiseach has invited the loyalist parties to meet the Government following a warning from Mr David Ervine, of the Progressive Unionist Party, that the loyalist ceasefire is at breaking point.
Speaking in Dublin yesterday, within hours of the publication of Mr Ervine's remarks in the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Bruton said he was happy to meet the loyalist parties "face-to-face" to discuss any problem they might have.
"The loyalist ceasefire has been very important from the point of view of keeping stability in the situation and giving people space to find agreement," he said. The contribution made by the PUP and the UDP in the Northern talks had been "particularly constructive".
"As far as the Government is concerned, if there are any worries that either of those two parties have about anything we are doing, then I would invite them to come and see us. A meeting could be arranged at short notice to discuss any matter of concern, either to Mr Ervine's party or to the sister party with which he is associated," Mr Bruton said.
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, said Mr Ervine had been "the voice of reason and dialogue" over the summer period. However, the message in yesterday's newspaper article was in marked contrast to that and must be taken seriously, he added.
"The British and Irish governments must move urgently to restore confidence in the peace process," Mr Ahern added.
According to the Taoiseach, the fact that the IRA ended its ceasefire had "created instability as far as the loyalist ceasefire is concerned". The IRA had missed "a golden opportunity" before the start of the multi-party talks in June to restore its ceasefire.
"We saw the IRA murder Garda Jerry McCabe and we saw the IRA involved in bomb attacks in Britain," he said.
Violence had served no cause - republican or loyalist - in the past in Ireland. It was proven to be self-defeating and, he believed, this lesson had been "learned and understood by the loyalist leaders and that therefore they will maintain their ceasefire because that is a sensible, strategic decision they had made in the first place".
Asked if the loyalists had been in direct contact with the Government in recent weeks, Mr Bruton said it was fair to say Mr Ervine's comments yesterday had also been made by him before.
"We are aware of his concerns. But I don't believe any problem of the kind they may have - and they have not been very specific about what their problem is. His statement itself is quite enigmatic as to what he really means," he added.
Meanwhile, the Northern talks, due to resume next month, provided the only opportunity for progress, he said.