A political vacuum will not be allowed develop in the North, the Taoiseach said as he announced a new round of consultations with pro-Agreement parties today.
After a meeting between Mr Ahern and Mr Blair on the fringes of the EU summit in Greece today, it was announced that the Taoiseach would meet UUP leader Mr David Trimble, and Sinn Féin leader, Mr Gerry Adams, next week. A meeting with the Prime Minister Blair is also being mooted.
A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Council has also been scheduled for July 2nd.
Inter-community tensions tend to increase in the summer, caused mainly by the beginning of the marching season. Both governments are keen to prevent any violence from derailing the peace process.
With Assembly elections postponed last month, the Taoiseach said at a press conference today that he was concerned about the dangers that could be posed by the absence political activity over the summer.
The Taoiseach and British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair discussed the difficulties facing the peace process on the fringes of the EU summit in Greece today.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, also met Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy on the fringes of the summit in Porto Carras, near Thessaloniki.
A Government spokesperson said the postponed Northern Ireland Assembly elections were among the issues discussed.
