THE Taoiseach and the Fianna Fail leader are stepping back from the brink of damaging the bipartisan policy on Northern Ireland, after another defensive round of exchanges on the stewardship of the peace process.
Mr Bertie Ahern warned last night that it would be wrong and dangerous to give any impression that limits should be placed on legitimate democratic debate or action, "or to suggest that a democratic nationalist consensus, provided that it is for peace, is subject to a loyalist veto".
Meanwhile, the leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney, called on Mr Bruton and Mr Ahern to "cool it" and to end their squabbling on the peace process. At this sensitive time, it was important to highlight areas of agreement between the parties, not to delve into the history books looking for differences.
Responding to Mr Bruton's political attack on him on Thursday night, Mr Ahern told a party meeting in Birr that Fianna Fail, even where it had reservations, had supported all major intergovernmental initiatives over the cast year.
"But we have been very concerned about the loss of confidence in the handling of the peace process, especially among Northern nationalists", he said.
Fianna Fail had tried where possible to make up for that, and to make up the balance where it seemed lacking. "We showed great restraint, even in a situation of bipartisanship, to which we are committed, it is on occasion right and, indeed, our duty to make constructive suggestions and criticisms", he added.
Mr Ahern indicated that the Taoiseach had seemed to address the deficit in confidence in a constructive manner in a speech earlier in the week, which had been warmly welcomed by him and others.
But the party political attack on himself two nights later unfortunately did little to further advance the rebuilding of the confidence necessary to underpin a renewed peace.
"What is needed most is confidence that there will be a more consistent and reliable approach in the future", Mr Ahern continued, "as appeared to be signalled two days ago."
The chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, Mr Phil Hogan, joined in the war of words between the two leaders yesterday, accusing Mr Ahern of trying to provide himself with some be elated cover for the fact that he had made a major misjudgment in his recent speech at Arbour Hill. His unbalanced and seriously ill judged remarks were in danger of undermining the careful efforts to achieve a settlement, he said.
