The Forum for Peace and Reconciliation may be reconvened next month, the Taoiseach revealed. Mr Ahern said that the Government would consider asking the chairwoman, Mrs Justice McGuinness, to convene a meeting early next month following further consultations, and to convene occasional meetings thereafter.

He added that the Government would also consider extending invitations to other parties in the North to attend the forum. "The purpose of such meetings would be to reinforce progress in the talks, not in any way to distract from them."

Mr Ahern was pressed by the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, the Labour leader, Mr Dick Spring, and the Democratic Left leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, to clarify remarks made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, in New York.

Mr Spring said that the Minister had made a clear statement that Sinn Fein would accept a compromise short of British withdrawal, and certainly short of a united Ireland. He asked if the matter was discussed with Sinn Fein representatives recently.

Mr Ahern replied that the matter was not discussed. But the Government had asked everybody it met to accept the position that compromises would have to be made in the course of the negotiations and that people would have to move in the process.

He added that he had seen the text of what Mr Burke had stated to journalists in the US, and his remarks were on the basis that compromises would have to be made by everybody.

Mr Bruton challenged Mr Ahern to say in what context Mr Burke's remarks should be placed.

The Taoiseach said that Mr Burke had stated that the framework document was the basis for moving forward, and he had added that nothing should be predetermined and people should have an opportunity of debating, discussing and negotiating on the various issues.

Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) welcomed the recent release of IRA prisoners from Portlaoise prison and referred to the "lack of movement" by the British authorities, particularly the delay in the transfer of prisoners from the British to the Irish jurisdiction.

Mr Ahern said it should be acknowledged that over the summer months the British government made quite a move on the reclassification of prisoners, which had been beneficial. The Irish Government had continued to explore new ways to try and speed up the prisoner-transfer process and other matters.

"I do accept fully that the issue of prisoners, both loyalist and republican, is a central part of the confidence-building measures," he added.

Mr O Caolain said he would join with the Taoiseach in acknowledging movement on the prisoner issue in Britain, if that were the case in substantive terms. In real terms, there had been a serious deterioration in the treatment of prisoners.

Mr Austin Currie (FG, Dublin West) said it would help very considerably in confidence-building in the North if the unlocated bodies of those people murdered by the Provisional IRA were found with the help of the republican movement.

Mr Ahern said that statement would be echoed by all members of the House.

Mr De Rossa said it was unacceptable for a group on a Tuesday to solemnly sign on for the Mitchell Principles and for some of that group to say on the Thursday that they had problems with them and, specifically, to say in An Phoblacht that there would be no decommissioning until the talks process was over and an agreement reached.

Mr Ahern said that Mr De Rossa would be aware of the joint statement made by the British Prime Minister and himself that consent would be the guiding principle in the talks.