The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister left a meeting in Downing Street today in upbeat mood saying the Belfast Agreeement could be implemented fully with the support of the parties in Northern Ireland.
However there is still no sign of agreement on decommissioning and policing. Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid must decide the future of the Northern Ireland Assembly if new First and Deputy First Ministers are not in place by midnight on Saturday.
If the deadline is not met, Dr Reid must decide whether to allow fresh Assembly elections to take place or suspend the institutions for one day or a longer period, allowing for a review of the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Ahern told reporters after the breakfast meeting: "I think the political parties are determined to see the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement.
"When people look back over the last three years, the Executive has worked well, the Assembly has worked well, the North-South institutions have worked well and of course there are outstanding difficulties
"The implementation of the Good Friday agreement with the work we have done in Weston Park is the only way forward".
Mr Blair agreed that substantial progress had already been made.
"We can see that the political process offers the only sensible way forward and lets never forget...what actually has been agreed", Mr Blair said.
"We have made huge and substantial progress. I hope we can now, on the issue of policing, on the issue of violence, resolve the remaining questions so we can move forward... and so that those people, be they dissident republicans or so-called loyalists who are still wanting to engage in violence are completely isolated".
Mr Ahern and Mr Blair will meet in the fringes of the European Union Council meeting on Friday.
