The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, met the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, separately in Government Buildings yesterday. According to a Government spokesman he repeated to both that he saw June 30th as an "absolute deadline", as stated by the British Prime Minister.
A Government spokesman said Mr Ahern's 90-minute breakfast meeting with Mr Trimble marked the start of a period of intensified contacts.
Mr Mallon told reporters afterwards that he too agreed with the imposition of the deadline. He rejected the idea that more time was needed, saying the issue of weapons decommissioning had already been around for five years.
"Time is not a factor and giving more time is not an answer," he said. ein and the Ulster Unionist Party are going to have to move from their absolute positions. They will have to show they are not more interested in their own positions than in reaching agreement."
Mr Trimble said his meeting with Mr Ahern had involved "a very positive and fruitful exchange of views but nothing that will produce any change in the situation". It was now up to the republican movement "to fulfil its obligations under the agreement".
"We hope they will do so, so that in the words Mr Adams used in March, we can both jump together. We're quite willing to do that."
The June 30th deadline was "important", in the sense that July 1st was when devolution would occur in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. There could be "a significant loss of confidence" if Northern Ireland did not do the same.
Asked if he was under extra pressure because of the independent stance adopted in recent weeks by the UUP deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, he said "no".