The chances of round-table talks on the future of the Belfast Agreement look more likely today after sources at Stormont indicated that British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair wants to travel to the North this week to begin a new round of discussions.
But a spokesperson for the Taoiseach told ireland.com that plans for Mr Ahern's trip to Japan on Thursday have not been changed and that there has been no official communication between the Irish and British governments regarding talks later this week.
None of the main parties in the North have confirmed that the round-table talks, suggested by Mr Seamus Mallon two weeks ago, are set to take place but media speculation has been building following behind-the-scenes discussions between Irish and British officials over the past two weeks. It is understood Mr Blair will take part in the round-table discussions probably on Thursday involving both governments and the pro-Agreement parties.
It is hoped the talks will enable the party's to eventually break the deadlock in the peace process over IRA decommissioning, police reforms, British demilitarisation and Unionist sanctions against Sinn Féin.
However, sources were insisting Mr Blair would not be bringing “any ready made deal" to the talks.
"We are still trying to talk through all the issues. We are trying to get progress but it should not be interpreted that the Prime Minister’s visit is in any way evidence that he is coming to rubber stamp a deal," a Stormont source said.
A Downing Street spokesman today confirmed that Mr Blair wanted round-table talks to take place in Northern Ireland this week to drive the peace process forward.
Although no date was named for such a meeting, Mr Blair's official spokesman said the Prime Minister believed it had to take place.
"He has always felt that the peace process doesn't stand still, it moves forward or backwards," he said.
"We have to find the momentum to get it moving forward again."
PA