The Taoiseach has signalled the start of an "intensive effort" by the Irish and British governments to overcome the current difficulties in the peace process. But he declined to put "timescales" on the prospects for overcoming the decommissioning and devolution problems.
Senior Irish and British government officials are due to meet in London on Monday to determine what options are available to have the institutions restored and make progress on decommissioning. The governments are hoping to prepare a joint strategy which will be put to the parties before Easter.
Mr Ahern said last night that the officials would be "looking at understanding what full implementation" of the Belfast Agreement meant. However, he cautioned that there were "difficulties and obstacles" which would have to be overcome.
A Government source indicated that there had been, in recent days, a "very serious engagement" between Dublin and London as well as between the governments and the parties in the North.
The Taoiseach started a series of meetings with the pro-agreement parties in Dublin yesterday when he held separate discussions with the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr David Trimble, and the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams. Mr Trimble, who was in Dublin for an appearance on the Late Late Show last night, was accompanied by Mr Eoghan Harris. He said there was a limited amount of time available to remove difficulties about the credibility of the Belfast Agreement.
While accusing Mr Trimble of "standing aside" from the Belfast Agreement, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, signalled a determination to make the peace process work.
Although he described the suspension of the institutions as a "hammer blow" to the process, Mr Adams said his party had "no intention of giving up".
The Sinn Fein leader said there was a sense of urgency in the Irish Government's approach to the current situation, although he admitted that there was "only one chance left to sort this out".
This interpretation of the situation was played down by the Ulster Unionist leader, who said it was "not helpful to increase the tension".
The two governments have informally made Easter a deadline for achieving progress, with difficulties emerging around that date for republicans with the traditional Easter Rising commemorations, and for unionists with the start of the marching season.