The Taoiseach has said "it is not the end of the world" if the two governments' decommissioning proposals are voted down at the multi-party talks today. However, speaking last night in Dublin, Mr Ahern expressed disappointment at the prospect. He and the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, had "tried hard to see if there were ways that we could give clarifications to move the issue on".
If, as expected, the proposals are vetoed by the unionists, the governments would press on to "try to create the conditions for substantial negotiations in as inclusive a way as is possible.
"I genuinely hope that, over the weeks ahead, they will prove to be inclusive. I think the people generally want to see us move this issue forward and that is what we have to continue to do", Mr Ahern said.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet yesterday reviewed the overall Northern situation, particularly the impact of the renewed IRA ceasefire.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, told journalists yesterday that even if decommissioning proposals are defeated today "the two governments will not be giving up on a process that gives such hope", adds Patrick Smyth from Brussels.
Mr Burke, in Brussels for a meeting of EU foreign ministers, told fellow ministers the Government remains determined "to enter into substantive negotiations on September 15th to agree a lasting and equitable peace".
The challenge facing democrats now, he said, is "to build on the opportunity presented by the unequivocal restoration of the IRA ceasefire". Mr Burke thanked the EU for its continuing commitment to the peace process and particularly its allocation for next year of £80 million to the peace fund.
The decommissioning paper, Mr Burke said, had been lengthily debated and clarified, and both governments had gone a long way to meet the concerns expressed by unionists. They would continue to "strive to meet the expressed concerns of unionist representatives because we are very keen to ensure that unionists are fully represented in the talks process."
The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, echoed Mr Burke's comments on the funds.