British prime minister Mr Tony Blair insisted today that there must be a "complete and unequivocal end to violence" by paramilitaries in Northern Ireland if the power-sharing executive is to be restored.
Mr Blair, speaking outside his Sedgefield home following talks with the Taoiseach Mr Ahern, said that new talks between the parties at Leeds Castle, Kent, next week represent a crucial juncture.
Mr Blair said: "It is two years now since I made a speech ... about acts of completion, saying in effect we had to move the whole thing forward and get it done.
"Two years on, the elements are still the same. It is apparent what has to happen, there has to be a complete and unequivocal end to violence, there has to be a willingness on that basis to share power.
"The elements are clear, the question is, is the will clear? I mean, do people really want to do it?
"There is no point in us continually having these meetings unless that will exists and we will find out next week whether it really does."
Mr Ahern said: "The issues are well known to everybody. We look forward to the week ahead. I hope that the political will is there. I think we have identified the issues many times.
"There is a clear understanding between the governments (on) what we want to do.
"It is frustrating, to say the least, that the institutions are down for two years. It is 10 months since the election. It is very obvious what we require to do.
"We want to get back to the normality of politics in the north, where people are dealing with education, and health and environment and all of the other issues.
"But to do that, we need the institutions up, we need an Executive, a working Executive, and we need the Assembly to be working. It worked well when it was there.
"And if people are prepared to do what we have asked, and what was outlined two years ago, in the statements that the Prime Minister made, and I supported the contents of it, then we can make progress.
"It is very clear what we want to do and we will work together to try and achieve that next week."
The talks come ahead of make-or-break all-party meetings at Leeds Castle in Kent next week, which have been widely flagged as the last chance to save the Belfast Agreement.
London took over direct control after power-sharing collapsed in October 2002.
The key issues on the talks agenda are ending paramilitarism, decommissioning of weapons, completing police reform and restoring power-sharing.
At his monthly press conference in Downing Street earlier this week, Mr Blair said he believed that it was possible that the talks would produce a deal to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland.
But he warned there would only be a deal if it was clear that all the parties wishing to play a part in the Executive were "not connected in any shape or form with paramilitary activity and that all paramilitary activity ceases completely".
Both Sinn Féin and SDLP leaders have expressed strong doubts about whether the DUP is willing to do a deal.
Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams said earlier this week, insisting there was no blueprint for an agreement. "At this point neither do we have a comprehensive agreement or a package which would be the launching pad again for such a process."