Government sources have indicated that a reply to a letter from the SDLP leader Mark Durkan raising concerns about the citizenship referendum will be sent tomorrow.
The sources also strongly rejected Mr Durkan’s claim that Government advisers are making the issuing of a reply conditional on SDLP support for a Yes vote in Friday’s poll.
They said the Department of Justice and the SDLP had been in discussion about the issues raised in Mr Durkan's letter, and that process was nearly finalised.
Speaking earlier on RTÉ Radio, Mr Durkan said he had sent a second letter to Mr Ahern weeks ago seeking further assurances about the proposed constitutional changes.
Mr Durkan said the part of the constitution dealing with citizenship affects everyone on the island, but that the Northern parties were not consulted about the change.
Mr Durkan also claimed that Government advisers had insinuated that he could only be given assurances if the SDLP supports a Yes vote when the matter was discussed by the party with the Department of Justice.
