The Taoiseach had "several" telephone conversations with the British Prime Minister during the weekend, both before and after the declaration of the renewed IRA ceasefire. Government sources indicated that the purpose of the discussions was to try to ensure that all parties would attend the inclusive talks on September 15th.
Mr Ahern is expected to invite the president of Sinn Fein, Mr Gerry Adams, to talks in Government Buildings within days. He confirmed that he spoke to Mr Adams on the telephone on Saturday after the declaration of the IRA cessation. "The message was that we must make this permanent," Mr Ahern said.
In a lengthy interview on Northern policy, meanwhile, the Taoiseach said on RTE yesterday that Articles 2 and 3 were on the table in the forthcoming negotiations. He also stated that he guaranteed the principle of consent. "Anything negotiated will be put to the people, North and South, on the same day requiring the agreement of both communities." Questioned on the Government's view of the permanence of the ceasefire, Mr Ahern said the republican movement "will never say the matter is permanent. Where they are coming from, they want a 32-county Republic. They want to see the British administration out for good, so they are not going to use the word permanent."
Despite the restoration of the ceasefire, Government sources indicated that the Government had no immediate intention of recalling the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation. The focus has moved to the all-party talks scheduled from September 15th.
