Irish and British government officials will meet in London today for talks on the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill.
Officials will be discussing what possible amendments could be introduced to the Bill, when it reaches committee stage in the House of Lords, to make it acceptable to nationalists and republicans. Controversy has arisen over the decision of the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, to retain the RUC name in the formal title of the new police service.
The Taoiseach told the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in a 20-minute telephone conversation on Friday, that in its current form the Bill would not attract young nationalists and republicans to join the new service.
