Mr Tony Blair and Dr Mo Mowlam appear locked on a collision course with the Ulster Unionists over the timing of Sinn Fein's re-entry into the multi-party talks at Stormont.
Mr Trimble emerged from an hour-long meeting with the British Prime Minister in Downing Street yesterday, declaring that the scheduled re-entry date of March 9th was too soon, and repeating his earlier threat of disruptive action should Sinn Fein resume its place at the conference table on that date.
But in an interview with The Irish Times this morning, Dr Mowlam confirmed that - provided the IRA ceasefire holds "by word and deed" - Sinn Fein will rejoin the talks on Monday week.
In the interview, Dr Mowlam confirmed that her department was pushing ahead with plans for the legislation necessary in anticipation of a referendum on a political settlement in May. And she gave the clearest signal yet that Mr Blair had discussed her possible appointment as Labour Party chairman in a cabinet reshuffle widely expected in July.
Asked if she expected to assume the new post, Dr Mowlam replied: "I don't know what the Prime Minister's decisions will be."
Asked if he had discussed the idea with her, she replied: "I have said I am very happy doing the job I am doing. I care very much about the party. Two weeks ago I was in Brighton talking on welfare-to-work. I feel very strongly about the centrality of the party and I will do whatever I can."
Asked again if Mr Blair had discussed the issue with her, Dr Mowlam said: "I don't report private conversations with the Prime Minister."
Dr Mowlam confirmed that she had advised Mr Blair on the question of meeting Sinn Fein during the period of its suspension from the talks but said he had not yet reached a decision.
However, there was speculation at Westminster last night that, under pressure from the Ulster Unionists and UDP, Mr Blair might not now meet Mr Adams until March 9th.
Asked if it could be assumed Sinn Fein would rejoin the process on that day, Dr Mowlam said: "If by word and deed the ceasefire holds, then March 9th is the day they are back."
While it seems clear that the UUP does not plan to leave the talks process, Mr Trimble renewed his threat of unspecified action. "Should Sinn Fein return prematurely, we will find a way of making sure they do not dominate or control the process," he said.
"We will do some things, but I'm afraid you will have to wait until March 9th. We will do it when we do it and we are not going to talk about it before."
However, he appeared more upbeat in his appraisal of the situation following Thursday's meeting between Mr Blair and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. Specifically Mr Trimble welcomed the announcement that the two governments would not be preparing a prescriptive paper defining the terms of a likely settlement.
Mr Trimble saw Mr Blair after an 8 a.m. breakfast meeting with Mr Ahern at his Park Lane hotel. The Taoiseach said they had a positive and constructive meeting, and had agreed on the need to try to meet the Easter deadline for an agreement.
Addressing an audience of Irish businessmen later, Mr Ahern said: "All sensible people accept that the undoubtedly deep political problems of Northern Ireland must be resolved without recourse to violence in a way that does justice to the totality of relationships, to all three strands.
"Achieving this will be a test of political maturity. The close relationship I have developed with the Prime Minister is beneficial in terms of solving problems. I also consider Mo Mowlam is doing a fine job."