The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, may talk to the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, before the review of the Belfast Agreement to be chaired by Senator George Mitchell.
Mr Ahern yesterday appealed to all sides to take part in the review following speculation that unionists may not participate. "It is fundamentally important that every body plays a full role in this and hopefully they will," he said.
There was no official reaction yesterday from the Taoiseach to the claim from the Fine Gael leader, Mr Bruton, that Mr Ahern had adopted a "tactical silence" in relation to the North. Mr Bruton said Mr Ahern would gain greater leverage on other issues if he spoke out simply and clearly on "beatings, banishments and punishment shootings".
However a Government source said there was "amazement" that Mr Bruton did not appear to be aware of criticisms of violence by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews and the Minister of State, Ms Liz O'Donnell.
Mr Ahern briefed Ministers at length on the North at the first Cabinet meeting after the summer break yesterday. He reiterated the sharp condemnation by the Government of all acts of violence and intimidation and said the Government would continue to call on all political leaders to use their influence to have these activities halted.
A Government spokesman said Mr Ahern told Ministers he believed violence would end for good only when the democratic framework charted in the Belfast Agreement was in place.
The spokesman added that the Taoiseach had "no sense" that the Mitchell review would not go ahead and said Mr Ahern was likely to be in touch with Mr Blair before the weekend. A Government source said last night there was "no plan B" if the Mitchell review was not successful. Mr Ahern spoke yesterday of a "difficult time".
"I had an opportunity from his sick bed of talking to John Hume. I've talked to Gerry Adams. I'll be talking to the Prime Minister. I've been in touch with all of the other parties and all of the politicians during the month of August so I think we have to build on where we are. But this is a difficult time, there is no doubt about that."
He said any acts of violence or harassment, intimidation, any attempt to buck the rule of law and order or to break democratic principles were not acceptable. "I think the republican and loyalist representatives are very clear on the Government's view on that."