I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 18 together.
Progress in the multi-party talks, particularly since their resumption in September, has been frustratingly slow. It has not yet been possible to reach agreement on the handling of decommissioning and thereby to complete the opening plenary session and move into substantive three-stranded negotiations. The two Governments are united in their commitment to the implementation of all aspects of the report of the international body as the best possible basis for progress in decommissioning. We continue to hope that all other participants will agree to work with us on that basis and discussions on this matter are continuing in Belfast. No dates have as yet been agreed either for a Christmas break in the talks or for their resumption in the New Year.
Despite the disappointing pace of developments in the talks, it is important to emphasise that if operated with goodwill and commitment they still offer the potential for progress towards the achievement of a lasting and comprehensive negotiated settlement. The ground rules and rules of procedure, guarantee the right of all participants to advance their views on all issues of concern, and create a negotiating structure in which all of the key relationships can be considered in parallel. They also ensure that any agreement, even before it is put to the people for ratification, must be acceptable to the political representatives of both communities and to both Governments. The existence of a potentially fully inclusive talks process, with prestigious international independent chairmanship, is a substantial asset and should be safeguarded, as far as possible, whatever the short-term difficulties.
The conditions for Sinn Féin's entry into the political talks currently under way in Belfast were carefully set out by both Governments in the communiqué of 28 February 1996 and in the ground rules and have been reiterated on many occasions, not least here in the past three quarters of an hour by the Taoiseach. In our contacts with the British Government, most recently at Monday's Anglo-Irish summit, we have made it clear that we believe Sinn Féin should be included in the talks once those conditions have been met, and that we are anxious to see that objective achieved as soon as possible. That is a strong argument for the earliest possible reinstatement of the IRA ceasefire which should never have been broken.
As the Taoiseach said on Monday, and has just repeated in the House, if the IRA clearly calls an unequivocal ceasefire in words that are believable, and provided there is nothing done that is inconsistent with this ceasefire or with the Mitchell principles, then Sinn Féin should be admitted to participation in the talks in accordance with the ground rules we have agreed. In practical terms, we hope this will be possible early in the New Year. The Prime Minister, Mr. Major, has made it clear that he is unwilling to commit his Government to a specific timetable, which would have been our preferred approach.
However, he has also made it clear that he does not intend any undue delay. Obviously, the sooner a ceasefire is called, the faster the goal of Sinn Féin's entry to the talks can be achieved.