ON THE last day of the Dail debate on the peace process, the deputy Fianna Fail leader, Ms Mary O'Rourke, said John Major was not to blame for the London bomb outrage. She said, however, he must take responsibility for the dilatory way he dealt with the peace process.

Everything was cast aside so he would have the approval of a section of his backbenchers. He had spurned the Mitchell report and proposed elections. "We must think and act anew," she said.

Mr Michael McDowell (PD, Dublin South East) said John Major's refusal to accept the Mitchell report or move towards talks was prompted by fear of his own backbenchers who wanted to maintain the integrity of the United King win them the next election.

It was not his fear of the unionist MPs, as it had been in the past, but Mr Major should acknowledge that Northern Ireland's membership of the UK was contingent on the creation of a society there which accorded civil rights to the minority. Recent remarks of the unionist leaders Mr John Taylor and Mr David Trimble, about the Republic being a "foreign country", must be rejected.

Ms Maire Geoghegan Quinn (FF, Galway West) said the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste could be assured of Fianna Fail's support every step of the way in uniting the nationalist community.

"No matter what obstacle is put in the way by the British government, that unity is not going to be split. We want them to realise that the Irish Government is not going to let this opportunity for peace to be frittered away. What is critical now is a definite date for talks."

Mr Eamon O Cuiv (FF, Galway West) said the British government was not committed to progress. "Every possible objection and obstruction was put in the way of unconditional all party talks to try and resolve once and for all the historic differences between our people. Condition after condition, precondition after precondition were put in the way of progress.

"In the meantime, the simple steps that could have been taken to build confidence, like humane treatment of prisoners, transfer of prisoners, a bill of rights in the North, disarming the police force, as Kevin O'Higgins did during a civil war at the foundation of this State all could have taken place."

Mr Sean Kenny (Labour, Dublin North East) said the Mitchell report was fair and the British government's response to it was a lost opportunity. The recent attacks on the Tanaiste by Mr Trimble and Mr Taylor were an inept attempt to divide the Irish Government parties.

"The unionist party leadership would better serve the people they represent if they could develop meaningful policies to address the issues which divide the two traditions within Northern Ireland and on the island as a whole."

Ms Mildred Fox (Ind, Wicklow) urged the Taoiseach not to exclude Gerry Adams from discussions. "We should be bending over backwards to do everything necessary to end this madness."

Mr Trevor Sargent (Green Party, Dublin North) said he did not agree with many of Sinn Fein's policies, but it should not be frozen out of discussions. Mr Tony Gregory (Ind, Dublin Central) said it was wrong to go back on and agreement made in December to release republican prisoners from Portlaoise. They were from the Irish Republican Socialist movement which had nothing to do with the ceasefire breakdown.

Ms Kathleen Lynch (DL, Cork North Central) said it was a tribute to the resilience of democracy that the Irish and British governments had not permitted themselves to be diverted from the search for peace. "But let us be quite clear about one thing the renewed efforts which have been made during recent days to find a route out of the impasse are despite and not because of the IRA's actions.

She said she spoke from experience. "Some members of my own, party, and the parties from which we came, had their roots in the physical force tradition. I know the difficulties of abandoning the certainties of physical force for the uncertainties of democratic politics. The will of the people, after all, is never predictable."

Having witnessed the journey ate first hand, she could say that it was worthwhile.

Mr Austin Deasy (FG, Waterford) praised the former Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Brooke. He had come to be appreciated as the probably the most outstanding holder of the office in the past 25 years. It had been "silly and unwise" to remove him. His replacement, Sir Patrick Mayhew would be regarded as coming from the right of the Conservative Party, he said. He believed his sympathy with the unionist cause had not been helpful.