It has emerged that Mr John Major is considering a referendum although not on the questions' suggested last week by Mr John Hume. There is speculation that he might seek public approval for negotiations involving parties with an exclusive commitment to democratic means perhaps in terms of the language originally used in the Downing Street Declaration.
After the summit, the Government hopes proximity talks will be called to agree the procedure for all party talks, including a "limited elective process". The next step would be an election and possibly referendums as the direct route to all party negotiations.
As outlined by the Taoiseach in the Dail and the Tanaiste in the Seanad yesterday Sinn Fein could join the process if and when the ceasefire was restored.
It has emerged that Mr John Major is considering a referendum although not on the questions suggested last week by Mr John Hume. There is speculation that he might seek public approval for negotiations involving parties with an exclusive commitment to democratic means perhaps in terms of the language originally used in the Downing Street Declaration.
Hopes for an early meeting between Mr Spring and the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, appeared to be receding last night. Mr Trimble is set to reject the Tanaiste's attempt to broaden the agenda for their proposed talks, which the Government considers even more crucial in the wake of the IRA's resumed campaign.
In a further letter to Mr Spring, Mr Trimble is expected to repeat his unwillingness to discuss proposals for an elected body in the North, or its role in facilitating future all party negotiations and to resist any suggest ion that London and Dublin might jointly sponsor such a process.
The Anglo Irish liaison group of officials are believed to have made progress at their meeting in Dublin yesterday in preparing the agenda for the summit. Mr Bruton also reported to the Cabinet on his 30 minute telephone conversation with Mr Major on Monday night. He told Ministers that the form of the elections had not been agreed between the governments.
The Government was satisfied, Mr Bruton said yesterday, that the best opportunity to renew the peace process and to have the IRA ceasefire restored was through both governments agreeing a date for all party negotiations.
In that context, he said, the Government had signalled its reservations and those of the nationalist parties in Northern Ireland about elections. "If it is established, however, that a limited elective process could provide the most straightforward route to a specific date for all party negotiations and to participation by all the parties, then there is an onus on us to explore if the conditions of the Mitchell report for an elective process can be met namely, that it be broadly acceptable, have an appropriate mandate and respect the three strands."
Asked by Ms Mary Harney if he still thought an election would "pour petrol on the flames", Mr Bruton said he expressed that view "in regard to a proposal which appeared to be put to me, that is that the British government might proceed with elections unilaterally in the immediate after math of the resumption of IRA violence ...
Mr Bruton said the Government's objective was to get the IRA campaign stopped. "If it stops, there is no obstacle in our view in the way of the full participation of Sinn Fein in all party talks." If Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, was suggesting otherwise, "I would have respect fully to disagree with him".
Mr Bruton will meet Senator George Mitchell in Dublin tomorrow
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, will meet SDLP leader, Mr Hume, and representatives of the Irish Republican Socialist Party today. He is also making arrangements to meet a Sinn Fein delegation and the leader of the Alliance Party, Dr John Alderdice, before the end of the week.