No one should play down the difficulties facing the participants in the political process over the next few weeks, the Fine Gael leader has said.
Mr Enda Kenny was speaking at Stormont last night following a round of talks with the parties and with business representatives and a series of visits to interface communities in Belfast.
Accompanied by senators and TDs, he said: "Nobody should underestimate the complexities or the sensitivities of the arguments that will have to be faced in the next few weeks.
"There are serious difficulties on both sides. I see a need for a great deal of concentrated dialogue in the next three weeks."
He said Fine Gael wanted to see restoration of the Stormont institutions in time for dissolution and the calling of fresh Assembly elections on May 1st as scheduled. He offered support to assist the two governments and the pro-agreement parties.
Mr Kenny said that negotiations over the next few weeks would be "extremely difficult".
Speaking immediately after a meeting with a UUP delegation headed by Mr David Trimble and including former ministers Sir Reg Empey and Mr Dermot Nesbitt, he said he was convinced unionists would not move before Sinn Féin did.
He added that the UUP felt let down by republicans in that they felt they had moved on two occasions "when promises were given but not honoured". He said they were adamant that they were not prepared to do so again.
The complexity of the Northern situation should be viewed against the backdrop of the US and British military build-up against Iraq, he warned. He hinted that US involvement at or near St Patrick's Day could prove important, saying: "Possibly March 17th may well be a crucial date involving the circumstances, whatever they might be, where the White House is involved at that stage."
Earlier, Mr Kenny poured cold water on talk of political realignment throughout Ireland and on speculation fuelled by the Taoiseach's comments that Fianna Fáil might consider organising and contesting elections in the North.
"I think Fianna Fáil have probably enough on their plate dealing with Fine Gael in the South, never mind trying to take over the entire country," he said.
Following a visit to interface communities in east Belfast which have suffered regular violence over the past year, he urged political leaders to give hope to loyalist and nationalist communities there.
After meeting loyalist residents in Cluan Place, which has seen some of the worst rioting, Mr Kenny said: "I think we should focus in on the real areas of dissent and on areas where we feel we can make a breakthrough.
"On both the loyalist and the nationalist sides this morning, there was a sense that mothers in particular need to have a much clearer picture in terms of the future for their kids.
"I think that's an area of involvement in a community sense which would pay dividends."