The Taoiseach is to meet the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, in Dublin this morning as an intensive fortnight of talks aimed at breaking the political deadlock in Northern Ireland gets under way.
As Mr Ahern met Government officials last night to discuss their approach to the talks, Mr Trimble was travelling to Dublin for the 8 a.m. meeting. Mr Trimble will be back in the North for the result of the European Parliament election which is crucial to his long-term authority within unionism.
Mr Ahern will also meet the deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, and the Sinn Fein leader Mr Gerry Adams today or tomorrow.
Also tomorrow, the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, will almost certainly spend a day in Belfast meeting the pro-agreement political parties.
Mr Ahern was expected to tell Mr Trimble this morning of the Government's commitment to the June 30th "absolute deadline" for a breakthrough set by Mr Blair.
Government sources said last night that they accepted the British position that the Northern Ireland Assembly would be suspended if the deadline was not met.
However, before engaging in serious negotiation Mr Trimble must anxiously await the result of the European election. The seat held by his party's candidate, Mr Jim Nicholson, was said to be under pressure during the campaign.
A loss of the seat or a poor performance could be the spark for a challenge to Mr Trimble's leadership which would damage any attempt to reach political agreement on decommissioning in the next fortnight.
If Mr Nicholson is clearly re-elected the way will be clear for the beginning of real negotiations on how to resolve the decommissioning issue.
Government sources insisted last night that the June 30th deadline was "very serious . . . We can't continue as we are because the opponents of the agreement can take the initiative the longer the deadlock goes on."
Most of the talks over the next fortnight will take place in Belfast, although some will also happen in London and Dublin.
Emphasising their determination to meet the June 30th deadline, both Mr Blair and Mr Ahern have said they will travel to Belfast late next week for the final few days of the talks.