THE Taoiseach and the Tanaiste have stated that there is no conflict within the Government about the criteria to be applied to test a renewed IRA ceasefire and allow for Sinn Fein's entry to the all party talks.
Responding to questions from Fianna Fail, Mr Bruton insisted that he fully endorsed the warning given by Mr Spring that they should not block off the prospect constructive engagement by declaring, in effect, that a renewed ceasefire would mean nothing and lead to nothing.
"There is no conflict between the comments," he said at one stage, later adding: "What the Tanaiste said was entirely consistent."
Mr Spring also denied claims by the Fianna Fail spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Ray Burke that the Taoiseach's statement on Wednesday had been less definitive than the Tanaiste's statement that same night in terms of the entry of Sinn Fein to the talks.
Calling for clarity, Mr Burke asserted that it was important for people outside the House to know exactly where the Government stood on this issue.
"There is absolutely no difference of view between the Taoiseach and myself or, indeed any other Ministerial colleagues," Mr Spring responded.
He went on to state that there was no change in the Government's position on the conditions and what was necessary. The most important clarity was that there would be a clear demonstration by the republican movement that a renewed ceasefire was for real. "There must be no contradictions between words and deeds," he added.
When Mr Burke suggested that what they were saying was a "fog" rather than clarity, Mr Spring said: "If the deputy thinks there are apparent differences, that is a matter for him. There are no differences. The Government is working as a team in advancing the talks process. It would be difficult to set out an absolutely watertight and detailed scenario in circumstances where there are inevitably many uncertainties and imponderables."
The Tanaiste added that the process in which they were engaged was extremely complex and difficult. Setting down rigid conditions above those on which they were all agreed - a restored cease fire and signing up to the Mitchell principles - would be counter productive.
"In the event of a ceasefire, the governments would seek to apply constructively and in good faith the principles we have set out. They would, of course, have to take account of the terms of any ceasefire as an important and decisive factor," Mr Spring concluded.
The DUP has described as "outrageous" the assertion by Mr Spring that Sinn Fein should be allowed into talks after an unequivocal restoration of the IRA ceasefire.
In a statement, the party secretary, Mr Nigel Dodds, hinted that unionists could walk out if Sinn Fein was admitted to the talks on the terms outlined by Mr Spring.
Mr Dodds said: "Any unionist who would remain at the negotiating table with Sinn Fein on the terms outlined by Dick Spring would be betraying the victims of the IRA."
