The pace of the Northern talks was sharply criticised by the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, and the Dail's only Sinn Fein TD, Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain.

Mr Bruton said it was "a matter of some urgency that the pace of the talks be intensified," while Mr O Caolain said the lack of progress was a "matter of grave concern." The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said the need to give the talks an impetus to speed up progress was self-evident.

He added that all of the parties were coming to the talks with their own objectives and priorities. "The talks are difficult, there is no doubt about that."

"It is our assessment that with the determination, goodwill and willingness of all the parties, we can make progress."

He said it was hoped that in the weeks ahead, having gone through the initial assessment and the presentation of the papers across the strands, the talks would have a greater momentum than in the past number of weeks and that there would be greater dialogue and understanding.

Mr Ahern said the Government was conscious of the need for confidence-building measures for all the groups - loyalists, unionists, nationalists and republicans.

He added that he proposed to make further visits to the North at appropriate times, depending on invitations he might receive and events that took place. Mr Bruton said: "It is a matter of some urgency that the pace of the talks be intensified and that we have a plenary (session) to look at the progress in regard to the decommissioning issue, as agreed, on December 1st to 3rd."

He said it was important that the plenary should not be taken up exclusively and unproductively with decommissioning issues and that there would be substantive progress in the talks in the three strands to report to the plenary.

He urged the Taoiseach to consider attending that plenary if, in the meantime, he could satisfy himself that progress was being made. He should also consider if the format of the talks should be changed, with a more active role for the chairman and with more use of bilateral and multilateral meetings.

Mr O Caolain said he was glad that the Taoiseach had confirmed he would visit the negotiations. This was very important in asserting the common ownership of the talks by all the parties and by both governments.

He said the lack of progress in the talks was a cause of grave concern, particularly because of the failure of the Ulster Unionist Party to engage constructively in the negotiations.

"We have a position now where Mr Paisley and his allies, including a former member of this House and government minister, Dr Conor Cruise O'Brien, are trying to wreck the talks from outside, while the Ulster Unionist Party is, in effect, engaged in sabotage from the inside.

"Would the Taoiseach agree also that the issues of prisoners and of demilitarisation remain totally neglected by the British government? In the county bordering my constituency, in south Armagh, British military fortifications have actually been extended during these negotiations," he added.

Mr O Caolain said there were Irish political prisoners in England who had served 22 years and who had neither been transferred to Ireland nor received a release date.

He urged Mr Ahern to emphasise in his contacts with the British government "those vital issues of confidence-building and equality , as well as the central need for real progress at the talks".

The Taoiseach said the format of the talks would change next week when the chairman would engage directly in a process of bilateral meetings with all of the parties. It was hoped the momentum and the pace of the negotiations would move forward.