The Taoiseach has said the Provisional movement has begun an internal consultation process on ending paramilitarism, criminality and decommissioning weapons held by the IRA.
Bertie Ahern said he hoped the result of the consultation would allow the parties to move ahead with what he called the political project.
The Taoiseach will meet the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain, tomorrow evening in Government Buildings. On Thursday morning the US envoy to Northern Ireland, Mitchell Reiss, will also meet the Taoiseach in Dublin.
Mr Reiss has pledged that the Bush administration will do all it can to assist in the restoration of devolved government in the North.
He was speaking after meeting the Northern Ireland Secretary in London this morning. It was their first meeting since Mr Hain's appointment.
Mr Reiss said the goal was, as it had always been, ‘to try to bring peace to Northern Ireland’.
Mr Hain said the British and US governments were partners in driving forward the peace process and getting in place an agreement that locked in long-term stability and prosperity in Northern Ireland and which put an end to paramilitary activity and criminality.
In that effort, Mr Hain added, the Bush administration would be ‘a powerful partner’.
Mr Reiss will also meet unionist and nationalist politicians in Belfast this week as the US, British and Irish governments assess the state of the peace process following the recent Westminster and local government elections in Northern Ireland.
Later this week, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is due to hold separate talks in Downing Street with the DUP and Sinn Féin.
