THE British and Irish Governments attempted to revive the Stormont talks process and rebuild nationalist confidence at a "sombre" Intergovernmental Conference in London last night.
After five hours of talks, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, described the meeting as "a time for straight talking". Both governments had agreed it was necessary to show the "political will and determination" to move the talks process substantially forward.
Although it was apparent the two governments agreed to disagree over events at Drumcree, Mr Spring stressed he had forcefully expressed the "concern, worry and anxiety" of the Irish people on its impact on the peace process.
"We have spent years setting out to build confidence in the nationalist community in the police in Northern Ireland and all of that effort has been set back enormously and we have to start all over again," he said.
Refusing to be drawn into whether the Government still believed the RUC had been pressurised by British ministers to allow Orangemen to march down the Garvaghy Road, Mr Spring simply stated. "The chief constable was very eloquent on the limitations about what the police can do in the absence of political leadership."
Mr Spring also carefully avoided answering whether he accepted the British government's bona fides instead he stressed it was obvious both governments needed to work together to ensure the talks process continues.
"Unless the two governments work together in a determined fashion, we are not going to bring about the type of substantive discussion and make the accommodation that is necessary."
However, in a separate press conference, the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, described the meeting as "adult and serious and frank". He insisted "this troublesome period" between the two governments had now been "put behind us".
After praising Sir Hugh Annesley's "full account" of the events leading up to the violence at Drumcree and his decision to allow the march through, Sir Patrick said he was now confident the Irish Government accepted there had not been any political pressure on the RUC.
"Nothing that he said was challenged. I am quite certain if there was disbelief it would have been put to him," he added.
Sir Patrick also stressed that the Northern Irish parties did nol move on from the current "procedural wrangles" then both communities would not believe that an agreement could be reached.
Despite Mr Spring's concerns to ensure that lessons were learnt from last week's events, Sir Patrick warned he could not guarantee that there would not be a recurrence of further violence at subsequent marches.
"I cannot give a guarantee that some massive demonstration of force will not overwhelm the RUC if they seek to stand up against it."