THE Taoiseach has dismissed claims that Dublin and London intend to impose their own solution in the North.
Speaking at the launch of the Boyne Valley Integrated Development Plan yesterday, Mr Bruton said that to ensure the three international figures involved in the process stayed involved, "we need to ensure that progress is being made ... and we should be able to get forward quickly to substance
Mr Bruton said that had the two governments intended to impose a solution, there wouldn't have been talks the governments would have just gone ahead and done that.
The purpose of talks was to get agreement from the politicians, but there had to be some mechanism for breaking a tie, so to speak, and obviously the governments might have to step in at, some point to move things forward. It would be far preferable if she parties could agree on procedure. I think, we have reached the point now when we should move on from the procedural phase to substantive discussions about the things that really matter to people," he said.
Launching the plan for the Boyne Valley, the Taoiseach said the ability to accept difference and that "people are still good even if there are different versions of history" was a characteristic he hoped would bring peace to the entire island.
The committee chairman, Mr Roibeard O'Ceallaigh, said the plan addressed the development and management of tourism, heritage and amenity in the Boyne Valley. It also set out an integrated framework for action in these sectors, to strengthen the socio economic base of the area.
Among the projects proposed for Slane, Drogheda, Navan and Trim, as well as for the valley, is the appointment of a fisheries manager for the River Boyne, to oversee the river being restored to its traditional salmon fishing.
Also proposed is a Boyne walk from Navan to Drogheda at a cost of £2 million; a logo for the Boyne Valley area and a promotional campaign; a water park and other amenities in Slane, which will be designated an estate village; and an investigation of the development of Slane Castle and its grounds as a tourist attraction.