Sinn Féin today told the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, that the Dublin and London governments had to issue their joint paper on the future of Northern Ireland as "a matter of urgency".
After talks involving Mr Ahern and Sinn Féin leaders Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness, the party held out the prospect of an early response from all interested groups - including the IRA.
Speaking outside Government Buildings after the meeting with Mr Ahern, Mr McGuinness refused to speculate on the chances of the IRA coming out with a firm declaration in response to the joint paper.
But he said: "Whenever the joint declaration is published, there will be an opportunity for the Ulster Unionists, for the SDLP for ourselves in Sinn Féin and indeed many other parties on the island of Ireland to comment.
"There will also be an opportunity for the armed groups - including the IRA to comment on that.
"There is no excuse, no rational reason for the governments delaying the publication of the plan setting out how they intend to fully implement the Good Friday agreement in all its aspect," he said.
The Irish and British governments have delayed the release of their blueprint for reinstating the Executive and the Assembly in an effort to heal a rift between the governments and Sinn Féin.
Mr Ahern and his British counterpart Mr Blair had hoped their package of proposals would have created the climate for the IRA move by pledging to implement aspects of the Belfast Agreement covering the British army presence in Northern Ireland.
The two leaders spoke by telephone today after Mr Ahern's meeting with Sinn Féin and agreed they still hoped to shortly release their delayed joint declaration.
The proposals also include measures to ensure the stability of the power sharing institutions, the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont and a scheme enabling the return of IRA members who fled the Northern Ireland to avoid arrest.
Republicans have been under pressure for an IRA statement announcing an historic move to abandon paramilitarism forever.
Frantic diplomatic activity has been taking place in Belfast, London and Dublin, with US President George W Bush's special adviser on Northern Ireland, Ambassador Richard Haass heading to the North yesterday for crisis talks.
SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan said today he believed the IRA could have misunderstood the true intention of the parties caught up in the peace process.
Speaking after meeting Mr Ahern in Government Buildings today, Mr Durkan commented: "Maybe people had misinterpreted to them what was the intent and the will and the requirement of the two governments and of all the other parties as well.
"Maybe they understand that better now."
Meanwhile, Minister for Justice Mr Michael McDowell highlighted optimism over a breakthrough on the peace process by Monday.
Speaking during his Progressive Democrats' annual conference in Galway, he said the latest joint statement from both goverments appeared to be a sign of progress.
But he warned: "Effectively, the window of opportunity that is now available runs into 96 hours rather than weeks or months. It is a very narrow window of opportunity.