South Kerry Independent TD, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, last night called for the disbandment of the RUC and the provision of an international police force for the North.
He said the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, and the US President, Mr Clinton, should go to the UN and ask for such a police force. "Catholics in Northern Ireland are crushed and cannot get fair treatment from the RUC," he said on RTE's Questions and Answers broadcast from Killarney. "I notice three people have been charged in connection with the death of a Protestant. How many people were pulled in over the deaths of 12 Catholics recently," he asked.
Mr Healy-Rae said there should be no question of excluding Sinn Fein from the peace talks. "My view is that putting people out of the talks will make them less effective."