The Taoiseach and the Rev Ian Paisley will meet in Dublin on Thursday in an effort to finalise a deal to break the impasse in the peace process.
This will be Dr Paisley's first formal political visit to Dublin and follows the meeting between the Taoiseach and the DUP leader in the Irish Embassy in London in January, and the recent direct negotiations at Leeds Castle in Kent.
Dr Paisley's previous visits to Dublin have been on Free Presbyterian Church business or to stage political protests.
The British and Irish governments believe that what was achieved at Leeds Castle could yet result in the effective standing down of the IRA and full power-sharing in a restored Northern executive, despite the continuing deadlock between the DUP and the other Northern parties over ministerial accountability.
They view the fact that Dr Paisley is prepared to lead a party delegation in talks with Mr Ahern at Government Buildings on Thursday afternoon as positive evidence of a further thawing in the relationship between Dublin and the DUP, and a possible opportunity to resolve remaining matters.
A DUP spokesman said Dr Paisley would be accompanied by deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson. He said Dr Paisley and Mr Robinson also hoped to meet the new minister for foreign affairs if Mr Cowen is appointed to another portfolio in the Cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Ahern will attempt to convince Dr Paisley that what he believes is an opportunity to see the IRA cease activity and disarm must not be lost in wrangling over procedural issues relating to the workings of the Belfast Agreement.
Equally he will be seeking assurances that if the IRA make and carry out that commitment, then the DUP will fully sign up to sharing power with Sinn Féin and the SDLP.
"The Taoiseach in welcoming the DUP delegation to Dublin will be emphasising the view of the two governments that an opportunity now exists to end paramilitary activity and put IRA weapons beyond use," said a spokeswoman for the Taoiseach last night. "On the other hand, there must be a genuine, lasting and stable commitment to power-sharing," she added.
Although the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, are pre-occupied with the Labour Party conference in Brighton, efforts are continuing to try to end the logjam, mainly over the issue of ministerial accountability in any restored Northern executive.
The DUP continues to argue that ministers must be more accountable to the executive and Assembly, while Sinn Féin and the SDLP fear the DUP's demands are an attempt to shackle the powers of nationalist ministers and dilute North-South arrangements.
Senior Irish and British officials are meeting in Dublin this week to devise a compromise that would be consistent with the agreement but that all parties could accept.
In Brighton last night, at a fringe meeting at the Labour conference, the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, urged the DUP to engage in talks with Sinn Féin.