The Taoiseach has said that he and Tony Blair have now signed off on the package of proposals which are to be put to the political parties in the North. At the same time he said that further work would be done on some details of the package over the next few days by officials of both governments.
Mr Ahern said that he hoped consultations with the parties in the North could begin on Thursday or Friday when they would be given details of what had been agreed between the two governments. The Taoiseach would not be drawn on any of the details in relation to policing or decommissioning.
Despite earlier optimism that the package could be completed later this week, there are now indications that it could be next week before the final details can be worked out between the two governments. The Taoiseach returns to Dublin on Wednesday afternoon, but Mr Blair is leaving for an official visit to Brazil on Sunday and there are fears that it may not be possible to finalise the package before then. A spokesman said that there would be telephone contact between the two men over the coming days.
The package, which was suggested after the last round of peace process talks in Weston Park in England, is aimed at securing the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. After a week of intensive behind-the-scenes talks, finding common ground on policing and decommissioning continues to be the major problem facing the two governments.
The Taoiseach told RTÉ News last night that there were still unresolved difficulties in relation to policing issues. The Dublin-London talks are being given added urgency by the fact that the Taoiseach will not be returning to Ireland from Argentina until Wednesday afternoon, just four days before Mr Blair leaves for an official visit to Brazil.
The Taoiseach has also told RTÉ News that he is extremely conscious of the rapidly approaching 12 August deadline for David Trimble's resignation as First Minister and of the need to reach a comprehensive all-party agreement before then.
