Ministers pressure Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein seeking "clarification" about talks timetable

Mowlam and Spring Underline Need For IRA Ceasefire

After 90 minutes of talks in Dublin - marking Ms Mowlam's first visit to the Irish capital since taking up her new post on Labour's election victory - the two ministers again underscored the necessity of a restored cessation of terrorist violence ahead of Sinn Fein's entry into multi-party negotiating.

Ms Mowlam said the two governments were very keen that the discussions between the parties, due to begin once more in Belfast next week, should be inclusive.

"To have those inclusive talks we need an unequivocal restoration of the ceasefire by the IRA to allow in Sinn Fein," she said.

The Secretary of State said they wanted to get moving, to get momentum into the Northern Ireland peace process.

Spring: Get peace process moving

Pressure for ceasefire

Asked about comments earlier by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams indicating that his party had been unable to obtain clarification from British Government officials about the timing of an entry into talks, Ms Mowlam said: "We have had two meetings. I understand that they were helpful and constructive and they have agreed to meet again."

"I think it is better after two meetings to continue the clarificatory process to see how they get on rather than debate it without the full facts," she insisted.

"The new government has attempted during its first three weeks in office to build trust and confidence between the parties in Northern Ireland. It is a two-way process, it applies to both sides, and it has not been easy when we have had a continuation of some of the sectarian bigotry that we have seen on the streets in Northern Ireland," she said.

Ms Mowlam said the issue of a timeframe for Sinn Fein's entry into talks after an IRA ceasefire "was one of the points of clarification being sought by Sinn Fein".

"It is not constructive to debate that here but for Sinn Fein to seek clarification from our officials to see what can be achieved on that front," she said.

Ms Mowlam and Mr Spring, together with Irish justice minister Nora Owen, met in an informal session of the Anglo-Irish inter-governmental Ulster conference which is jointly chaired by the deputy premier and the Secretary of State.

Later Ms Mowlam welcomed President Clinton's offer to help in the search for peace in Northern Ireland.

"The help and cooperation we have received from President Clinton and the US administration is of vital importance to the Northern Ireland peace process," she said in a statement.

"I hope all Americans with Northern Ireland's best interests at heart, like President Clinton, will bring their influence to bear on Sinn Fein to respond to the new Government's initiative, seeking a restoration of an unequivocal ceasefire from the IRA that is demonstrated in words and deeds," she said.