Ahern warns 20 days left to resolve NI impasse

The Taoiseach today warned there were ony 20 days left to break the current impasse in the North's peace process or else it was in danger of "drifting out".

Speaking in the Dáil today, Mr Ahern said the deadline set to restore the executive and assembly in Northern Ireland was November 26th, the anniversary of last year's elections.

If agreement cannot be reached by all parties the Taoiseach said the two governments "will find another way to move this forward".

"If we go past the 25th of November the two governments will have to look at what's the best way to continue. That will be the key part of our meeting in Brussels next week," Mr Ahern said.

The Taoiseach will meet British prime minister Mr Blair at the European Council meeting in Brussels later this week.

He said he hoped it was not the intention of any party to "play this thing out beyond the British Election in the summer of next year".

He said the fact that the DUP are refusing to talk to Sinn Féin is making the negotiation process "slow and cumbersome".

He warned that if it was delayed until after the British election the status quo might remain until 2006 as Britain becomes the president of the EU in the summer of next year.

Mr Ahern said that while there were no new items "the issues have been endlessly discussed to the point of frustration".