Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said a key obstacle to restoring devolution in the North could be overcome within a planned three-month timetable but that difficulties over policing remained.
Speaking after what had been billed as potentially groundbreaking talks with PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde, Mr Adams said he was not yet able to call a special party meeting to change Sinn Féin's policy on supporting the police.
He said several issues needed to be pinned down first, including when justice powers would be transferred to Belfast from London, and the role of MI5, Britain's intelligence service in policing.
"Is it possible to do that within the timeframe set out at the St Andrews talks? Yes, it is, but we are not there yet," Adams told reporters.
The DUP wants to see proof of Sinn Fein's commitment to law and order before a date for the devolution of powers is set.
While the DUP did not sign up to a 1998 peace accord aimed at ending a conflict in which more than 3,600 people were killed, it has given guarded support to the St Andrews deal.
A power-sharing assembly, set up under the 1998 pact, was suspended in 2002 following allegations the IRA operated a spy ring at Stormont.
The meeting followed on from a recent statement by Mr Adams in An Phoblachtthat he was willing to meet Sir Hugh if it would help speed up the resolution of the policing difficulties that are blocking the creation of a powersharing government.
These chiefly revolve around when responsibility for policing and justice would devolve to a restored Northern Executive.
Mr Adams met Sir Hugh at Downing Street two years ago with British prime minister Tony Blair, but this was the first time such a formal encounter dealing solely with policing took place.