Sinn Féin party members were still meeting tonight to discuss whether to call a meeting of the party's national executive to debate the contentious issue of policing.
A spokesperson contradicted earlier claims that the discussions on policing had ended. "The discussions are continuing and at this stage it is still impossible to say when they will end," he said.
Sinn Féin, the Democratic Unionist Party and negotiators from Dublin and London have been involved in talks to find a way through the impasse over the issue before Christmas.
The purpose of the talks has been to persuade Mr Adams to set in motion his party's process for changing policy on the PSNI.
The negotiations, which have focused on the time frame for the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont, went into the night last night.
The ardcomhairle which will require a two-thirds majority if it is to call an ardfheis next month on policing.
Mr Adams has insisted that if he is to summon the Sinn Féin national executive he will need certainty about a time frame for the transfer to policing and justice powers.
But the Democratic Unionists warned this evening
the May 2008 target date set by the Governments for the transfer of policing and justice powers to Stormont carries no weight.
North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds said despite what date the Northern Ireland Secretary named, he would not have the final decision on when the powers would be devolved from Westminster.
Mr Dodds was responding to recent claims by Mr Hain that May 2008 was a target date for achieving the transfer of powers.
Mr Dodds insisted: "The Secretary of State may speculate and pontificate all he likes about the timing of the devolution of policing and justice but thankfully he does not have the final say.
"The target date of May 2008 is entirely one set by Government. "It has never been agreed by the DUP nor will it be. So Hain's comments on this issue amount to hot air.
"Hain may be attempting to bring some kind of comfort to Sinn Fein but he speaks only for the Government and on this issue the Government cannot deliver. "The DUP has made it clear repeatedly that there will be no timetable for devolution of policing and justice agreed by us.
"Such a timetable is a republican demand only. No other party ever made this a precondition for doing the right thing on policing and justice."
Additional reporting PA
