The Irish and British governments have confirmed that they are to press ahead with efforts to implement the St Andrews Agreement, following consultations by all the parties with their members.
In a joint statement, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, and Northern Secretary Peter Hain said there is much to be done, and a responsibility on all to play their part.
The two men said they will work actively with the parties to complete this task and clear the way for a new era for the people of Northern Ireland.
They said they are satisfied from their contacts with the parties that the St Andrews Agreement represents the basis for a political settlement, which must rest on the two foundations of support for power-sharing and the political institutions and support for policing and the rule of law.
Mr Ahern and Mr Hain said that securing these objectives remains the priority of the two governments and of everyone in Northern Ireland.
DUP 'cautious' over blueprint
During a meeting of the DUP's executive last night a resolution was passed, neither backing nor rejecting the governments' blueprint.
The DUP said the refusal by Sinn Féin even to begin giving support to the PSNI, the courts and the rule of law had clear adverse implications for the timetable laid out at St Andrews.
None of Northern Ireland's parties is prepared to say it is 100% satisfied with the formula produced in Scotland last month.
The greatest uncertainties centre on the two largest parties, the DUP and Sinn Féin.
In the days after the St Andrews talks, the planned all-party discussions at Stormont never took place.
That meant no historic face-to-face talks between DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.
The meeting was scrapped because of a row over a pledge to support the police that the DUP want Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness to commit to before he could be nominated as Deputy First Minister on 24 November.
