Irish and British government officials are drafting responses to concerns raised by the DUP and Sinn Féin about the two governments proposed formula for a political settlement in Northern Ireland.
The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister held talks in London today aimed at increasing the pace of progress towards a political settlement in the North.
Afterwards, Mr Ahern said the two governments had now received a comprehensive list of points from Sinn Féin and the DUP which they wanted clarification on.
Mr Ahern said he was anxious to make progress on a power-sharing deal 'in a matter of days' but he refused to put a deadline on the latest round of talks.
Mr Ahern described the package of proposals put forward by the two governments as a very good arrangement.
He said he hoped the parties would agree with it, but it was their call.
Mr Ahern added that if the parties rejected the deal, the two governments should publish it. He said he and Mr Blair would do their very best to answer every point of clarification the parties raised.
Earlier, Mr Ahern held talks at the Irish Embassy in London with the DUP leader, Dr Ian Paisley, and the Sinn Féin President, Gerry Adams.
The DUP leader also saw Mr Blair at Downing Street.
Mr Paisley said the talks had made progress but he did not want to raise people's hopes too far.
On his arrival for the meeting with Dr Paisley, Mr Ahern said the intention of the negotiations was to restore the power-sharing government next spring.
He said the governments would try to see a lot of decommissioning happening in the weeks directly ahead, and to see some of it by the end of the year.
Dr Paisley said he did not think all the issues could be settled today or perhaps even this week. He said he would be holding out for absolute transparency on the question of weapons decommissioning.
