The Taoiseach has told the Dáil that a deadline of 26 November has been set to restore the executive and assembly in Northern Ireland.
This date is the anniversary of last year's elections in Northern Ireland.
Mr Ahern said that he hopes an agreement can be reached, but he said the prospects of this happening have ‘slowed’ since the recent talks at Leeds Castle in England.
He said that ‘one final effort’ will be made in the next 20 days.
Mr Ahern also said that he hopes to have discussions about the North with the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, when they attend a European Council meeting in Brussels later this week.
