Sinn Féin President Mr Gerry Adams has welcomed the decision by DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley to meet the Taoiseach Mr Ahern in Dublin on Thursday.
Mr Adams was speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Carlow today. He was accompanied by Mr Martin Ferris, Ms Michelle Gildernew and Dublin MEP Ms Mary Lou McDonald.
He called on the DUP to face up to the challenge of entering face-to-face discussions with Sinn Féin.
"The meeting in Dublin is symbolically important. It is also an opportunity for the Taoiseach to point out to the DUP leadership that the process requires them to acknowledge the rights of others," he said.
"In particular, the DUP leadership has to face up to the challenge of entering face to face discussions with Sinn Féin and coming to terms with the centrality of power sharing, equality and stable political institutions to any process."
Mr Adams stressed that Sinn Féin was committed to revitalising Irish agriculture and rural communities on an all-island basis.
"We see a future built on the basis of high quality food production and an expanded domestic processing sector, with a return to genuine producer co-operatives playing an enhanced role. We are also believe that to preserve the reputation of Irish food, the entire island must remain free from Genetically Modified crops."
"We have to secure a future for Irish farming. This will entail vigorous measures at a national and EU level embracing all aspects from animal health and the marketing of food," he added.