Sinn Féin has welcomed plans by the Democratic Unionist Party to hold talks with the Taoiseach in Dublin on Thursday but said the Rev Ian Paisley should engage directly with Republicans.
As Northern Ireland's politicians turned their attention to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's speech at the Labour Party conference in Brighton, Sinn Féin chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin said: "In the wake of the Assembly election last year the DUP promised a new, more confident brand of unionism.
Sinn Féin chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin
"So far we have seen little evidence of this new-found confidence. The DUP are continuing to refuse to engage with Sinn Féin directly.
"If we have learnt anything from the development of this peace process over the past 10 years, it is that dialogue is the key to resolving problems and moving forward.
"Therefore I welcome the news that Ian Paisley is to lead a DUP delegation to Dublin to engage in talks with the Taoiseach and the Irish Government."
DUP sources said last night that the meeting with Mr Ahern would focus on the work of a future Stormont Executive with the Government through the North South Ministerial Council and the British Irish Council.
A row with nationalists over future power-sharing structures and cross-border arrangements has thwarted a return to devolution.
It has also resulted in the IRA holding back on a statement which Mr Blair and Mr Ahern and their officials believe could break the deadlock on the issues of disarmament and end all paramilitary activity.
Mr Ahern has met the Rev Paisley before in Dublin in the DUP leader's capacity as Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church. However, it will be the first time they have met in Dublin for political talks.
In Brighton last night, at a fringe meeting at the Labour conference, the Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, also urged the DUP to engage in talks with Sinn Féin.