THE Tanaiste, Mr Spring, is to press the British government to investigate new evidence of the military's role in Bloody Sunday when he meets the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, next week.
In spite of the assertion by the British Prime Minister - Mr Major, in the House of Commons yesterday that his government does not intend to hold a fresh inquiry, it is understood that Mr Spring will emphasise the need to examine the fresh information.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin yesterday, Mr Spring said it was time to see "if we can bring about a dignified end to the anguish that remains after the events of January 30th, 1972".
Earlier the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, told the Dail that the matter would be pursued by the Tanaiste within the context of the Anglo Irish Conference. This was the most effective and appropriate way forward. Mr Spring had this matter "very much in hand" he added.
"I assure the House we will not rely on initial reactions in this matter but will pursue it with vigour and consistency until a satisfactory outcome is reached," Mr Bruton said.
This was a human issue that needed resolution, regardless of the political views of the community. It was a human rights issue, not one to be pursued in the context of one community seeking vindication at the expense of the other.
However, the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, said this was an issue on which the Government should not wait for Anglo Irish meetings. He asked the Taoiseach to call in the British ambassador, Mrs Veronica Sutherland, and tell her it was the wish of the Dail, in the light of the new evidence, to have a fresh inquiry.
If the Tanaiste did not succeed in getting a positive British response at Anglo Irish level Mr Ahern wanted the Government to go to the European Court of Human Rights.
Declining to answer a "hypothetical question", Mr Bruton said he would not raise expectations of what might transpire when the Mr Spring raises Bloody Sunday at the AngloIrish Conference level, but "we intend not to be put off by any initial response".
Meanwhile, the Seanad unanimously agreed on a motion calling for an investigation of the latest evidence to emerge about the killings. It also observed a minute's silence to mark the 25th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
Mr Sean Maloney told the House that he was in Derry on January 30th, 1972, and recalled how parents had run from their homes in the Bogside and Creggan areas of the city towards the march because their children were among the crowd.
Mr Joe O'Toole said that inadequate investigations such as the Widgery inquiry were merely recruiting grounds for the IRA.