THE SDLP leadership has strongly urged the Irish and British governments to ensure the multi party talks will not be allowed to stall when they resume on Monday.
The party leader, Mr John Hume, and his deputy, Mr Seamus Mallon, stressed the need to proceed to "substantive negotiations" when they met the three Government leaders in Dublin yesterday.
The procedural wrangling that marked the opening of the first six weeks of the Stormont talks process must not be repeated, the SDLP said.
Echoing the SDLP's call for substantial negotiations, the Taoiseach said concerns over procedure were "understandable"but it was important now to "get down to business. We have got to create a momentum of hope based on political progress".
There was "a strong sense in both governments that these talks must be moved forward in a purposeful way", as already identified in the Framework Document.
The SDLP delegation had travelled to Dublin to review the political situation and, Mr Hume said, to discuss the need to get down to "really serious talks about the future".
The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, who meets the Northern Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, for "informal" discussions in Dublin today, said it was essential to create momentum and confidence in the process because of the serious situation that had developed during the summer.
Asked about the possibility of expulsion of the fringe loyalist parties over the recent threats to dissident members, Mr Hume "said he wanted all parties present at the talks in a totally peaceful atmosphere, with everyone committed to the Mitchell principles.
Mr Mallon said later that when SDLP representatives meet the Ulster Unionist Party later this week, they will "put it to them" whether they are serious about reaching agreement. If so, the UUP will be able to proceed to substantive talks, he added.
He blamed the three unionist parties for the delay in moving on to proper negotiations.
Mr Mallon also warned that a "major incident" involving the loyalists or the IRA could push Northern Ireland back into the quagmire of violence.