The Taoiseach has told RTÉ News the official review of the implementation of the agreement in Northern Ireland will get underway on 29 January.
He said that British and Irish officials will be meeting next week to work out the mechanisms and operations of the review and it is his view that the review should meet formally two days a week.
He said that the review will go on several several months and may go beyond Easter.
Members of the North's Alliance Party, including its leader David Ford, had talks with the Taoiseach today.
Alliance was the only party not squeezed by the growth of the DUP and Sinn Féin in the North's November elections.
From a series of such meetings in Dublin today, details have emerged about how the two governments may attempt to address the problems in the peace process.
On the Irish side, the Taoiseach and the minister for Foreign Affairs will be centrally involved: it will be a challenge for them, given the demands of Ireland's EU presidency.
Brian Cowen and the Northern Secretary, Paul Murphy, will co-chair many of the review meetings.
With details of the review timetable emerging, the North's political parties will start to focus on their strategy for the talks.
Alliance proposes changes to system
The Alliance party wants to change the system that requires the support of a majority of nationalists and a majority of unionists to elect First and Deputy First Ministers.
Alliance argues this encourages decision-making on sectarian lines and wants it replaced by a weighted majority system.
It also says the Assembly should be cut to 80 members. It calls for an increase in the scope of North/South co-operation.
The party says the Republic should appoint a Police Ombudsman, with the same powers as its equivalent in the North.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell is examining a three-person Police Inspectorate model whereas in the North, one person, Nuala O'Loan, heads the Ombudsman service.
