THE British and Irish governments agreed to "intensify" their negotiations last night in an effort to break the log jam in the peace process.
Following a "frank" four hour meeting between the Tanaiste and the Northern Ireland Secretary in London, the two governments agreed to resume discussions next Wednesday in Dublin.
At separate press conferences after the meeting both Mr Spring and Sir Patrick Mayhew affirmed their government's positions but admitted they had been unable to resolve their differences over British proposals for an election in Northern Ireland.
Although Mr Spring stressed the Irish Government remained committed to the agreed objective of all party talks by the end of this month, Sir Patrick argued that the timetable now appeared unrealistic because of the election proposal.
"I must be frank, I think it would be very difficult to get the necessary legislation through in time for the end of February, but I would very much hope, that as a result of the intensifying of the political track within that time scale, agreement can be reached on a way ahead," he said.
Minutes earlier Mr Spring told a news conference that despite the "obvious differences of emphasis" the two governments had placed on the Mitchell report, he was confident that all party talks would begin according to the agreed timetable.
"The aim is still to get all party talks and get agreement by the end of February. There are difficulties but there are also opportunities and we must build on those opportunities and get all the parties talking," he said.
However, Northern Ireland
Office sources attempted to play down this difference, stating that any delays should not be significant.
"It is better to give it a couple of extra weeks for dialogue than to have no dialogue at all," one source said.
Mr Spring confirmed the Government still had "reservations" over Britain's proposals for an elected body but called on Mr David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist leader, to meet the Government and discuss the election proposal to ensure there will be no further obstacles in the way of all party talks.
"David Trimble and others have proposed an elective body, I think it would be very helpful to have discussions with those proposing the concept of an elective body and to ensure that we can see what happens after the elections.
"I think that people who go into the elective process want to be very dear as to what happens and that there are not further hurdles to jump, so to speak, after the elective process," he said.
The two governments agreed the political track of the peace process should be "intensified" by holding further discussions on the Mitchell report with all the Northern Ireland parties and the possibility of an elected body.
Although Sir Patrick insisted there was "no shading of anything the prime minister has said" about the elections, he agreed the proposal would only be "feasible" if it was broadly acceptable to all parties.
"We can propose, we cannot command, and that is as true for the Irish government as it is true for us. All party negotiations remain the objective. Why? Because only by all party negotiations can we come through to a comprehensive and political settlement which is our objective," he said.