THE Taoiseach rejected criticism by the Fianna Fail spokesman on foreign affairs of the Government's Northern policy.

Mr Ray Burke said it was a reality that the performance on the North report on parades by the British government clearly indicated the total failure of the Taoiseach's and Tanaiste's efforts relating to the peace process.

"You have been dismissed by Sir Patrick Mayhew, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on the North report in the past week. Despite your numerous phone calls and discussions with the British prime minister, you have singularly failed to make any progress relating to the questions of marches and the difficulty of the marching season."

He urged the Taoiseach to call a general election to allow the people to decide on the formation of the next government so that constitutional politics could be moved on well in advance of the resumption of the Northern talks on June 3rd.

Mr Bruton said he was very pleased by the way the Government was operating the Anglo-Irish Agreement, which had provided for the first time the means whereby the Irish Government could influence events and policy on Northern Ireland. That agreement had not been supported initially by Fianna Fail, but he was glad that the party had subsequently used it fully and fruitfully in government.

"I believe that continues to be the best way in which the Irish Government can work to protect the interests, in particular, of the nationalist minority in Northern Ireland regarding all matters, including contentious marches, but also job discrimination, policing and all other issues. But, of course, the ultimate objective is to reach an overall agreement."

He added that the Government had obtained for the first time ever a fixed date for all-party talks in which everybody could participate. "That is something that was not available under any previous government."