The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the leaders of the main pro-agreement parties meet in London today to consider the political stalemate threatened by the DUP's election victory.
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, emerged from what he called an "extremely useful meeting" with Mr Blair at Downing Street yesterday, stressing his desire to see democracy "completely and totally" restored to Northern Ireland.
And his deputy, Mr Peter Robinson, insisted his party wanted to work with the (British) government. "We're not in the business of planning for failure. We have proposals that we believe can provide a stable and lasting government for Northern Ireland and a peaceful future."
Although the DUP has not yet revealed the details of its proposed "alternative" agreement, the indications are that the two governments are inclined to allow the majority unionist party time to define its way forward.
However, in Downing Street this afternoon Mr Blair and Mr Ahern will come under strong Sinn Féin and SDLP pressure to push ahead with the implementation of the Belfast Agreement, and commitments made in the British Irish Joint Declaration of last April.
Sinn Féin's Mr Martin McGuinness said last night: "We will once again be raising with them the outstanding commitments which they have yet to implement, including measures on policing, demilitarisation, criminal justice, human rights and equality." He went on: "We will also make it clear to them that the continued suspension of the political institutions is both unacceptable and untenable.
"In the New Year there will be a clear onus on the two governments and the pro-agreement parties to come together and ensure that the process of change is not allowed to be stalled any further."
Media attention yesterday focused on Dr Paisley's seeming determination that the DUP will not sit "in government" with Sinn Féin.
"There will never be any conditions when we will sit in government with any body of people, loyalist or nationalist, who have an army, and that army is being used against democracy."
However, British and Irish officials will have noted Mr Robinson's complaint about "negative" questioning, and Dr Paisley's implicit acceptance that no issues can be excluded from the new talks agenda which he is seeking to construct.
He said: "We highlighted to Mr Blair what we felt our responsibility was as now leading the largest political party in Northern Ireland, and leading the majority of unionist people. We welcome the fact that in our communication with the Secretary of State (Mr Paul Murphy) he had made it clear that we would have the opportunity to raise all the matters that we want to raise."