THE Taoiseach expressed surprise at remarks by the Northern Secretary in which he rejected calls for an apology for the deaths on Bloody Sunday in Derry.

Sir Patrick Mayhew said on Saturday that an apology was for "criminal wrongdoing" and there was nothing in the Widgery report to support that.

Yesterday, Mr Bruton said in the Dail he was glad Sir Patrick had met the relatives of the victims of Bloody Sunday. "I was glad they had an opportunity to present him with a lot of new material on that day. Against the background of the fact that he had received a lot of new material from them, I was indeed surprised by comments that were made subsequently by him.

"But I do know from my own conversations with the British Prime Minister that he is willing to look at the new evidence. For my part, I have instructed the services of the State to assemble all the evidence we can from all sources, our own and external sources and we will be making a presentation of these matters in due course to the British authorities."

Mr Bruton said he would be meeting the relatives of the victims later this week to hear at first hand their statement of the new evidence and their views on what could best be done.

He said he believed that the concerns and sense of hurt of the families of victims of Bloody Sunday must be clearly heard and their sense of anguish given full voice. Any slight on the character of those who died must be removed.

The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, asked if it would be useful if before his meeting with, the relatives, Mr Bruton requested the British government at some level to clarify exactly its position on Bloody Sunday. Some British sources were saying that what Sir Patrick had said on Saturday was not its position and that Mr Major had, in effect, said that he would give an apology.

Such clarification would stop an unnecessary "merry-go-round which, unfortunately, the Secretary of State seems to thrive on at times", Mr Ahern added.

Mr Bruton said he would like to hear the relatives in a careful and full way. He would take whatever steps he thought appropriate to prepare for that meeting in terms of obtaining information that he did not already have, but it would be better if he was demonstrably not prejudging anything until he had heard the views of the people directly affected from themselves. He thanked Mr Ahern for his suggestion, which he would consider.

The PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, asked if it was not important for Mr Bruton to have a meeting with Mr Major soon to inject some life into the talks process.

The Taoiseach said any meetings, which might be considered useful with the British Prime Minister would, of course, be arranged whenever necessary. He had the opportunity of discussing matters regularly with Mr Major.

Earlier, Mr Bruton said the British government was aware of the Irish Government's position on contacts with Sinn Fein. He had set them out clearly in the House on a number of occasions.

"Obviously, the two governments exchange views on issues such as this. Ultimately, of course, it is a matter for the British government itself to decide its own position on this question."