Sources close to negotiations on the restoration power sharing in Northern Ireland are indicating that serious engagement is taking place in a bid to agree a timetable of actions that would lead to Assembly election taking place before the end of the year.
With the head of the International decommissioning body, Gen John de Chastelain, returning to the North and revealing comments by the US President George W Bush's special advisor, Mr Richard Haass, the signs are that all the cards are on the table in a bid to restore devolution.
Mr Haass said tonight he was encouraged by today's talks and hoped elections would take place soon.
"This is what all the people of Northern Ireland deserve and is a challenge for the political parties and their leaderships to keep pace with the wishes of the people.
"People are engaged on the fundamental issues: issues that deal with the role of paramilitaries; that deal with putting this conflict behind us once and for all and also how do we get the institutions not only back up and running but keeping them up and running," Mr Haass said tonight.
SDLP sources indicated that it may not be possible for agreement to come in time for the November 13th date being mooted as a possible election day, while other sources suggested a date at the end of the month though not necessarily a Thursday.