IRA comments that it is prepared for another 25 years of war were strongly condemned by the Fianna Fail leader. The Tanaiste repeated his view that they were "unhelpful".

Deploring the "present defeatist attitude" of the IRA, Mr Bertie Ahern said: "Nobody in this House is going to continue to live with 25 years of futile violence, or any, threat of it either."

Speaking during the Order of Business, Mr Ahern said that the IRA statement demanded a strong response from the House and should not go unchallenged. The IRA now seemed to be saying that the report of the Mitchell commission amounted to preconditions.

Later, at Question Time, the Fianna Fail spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Ray Burke, suggested that the response of the Government to the IRA comments was too feeble. The IRA's rubbishing of the Mitchell principles was ominous and was essentially a rejection of a commitment to democratic principles as a basis for negotiation.

Mr Spring said his attitude to violence was well known. His understanding was that the article in the Irish Voice, which contained the comments, was written prior to last week's joint communique.

He had described it as "unhelpful", but also said that the Government wanted Sinn Fein at the negotiating table. He had said many times that he regarded the Mitchell report as central to making progress on many issues.

Mr Des O'Malley (PD, Limerick East) said he remained to be convinced that there was any value in having elections other than to satisfy such parties as had suggested them. He added that the IRA had made three "unfortunate statements" since February 9th.

Mr Spring said his preference was for all party negotiations as quickly as possible.