The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, last night warned that he "could not honestly say" whether the IRA would be prepared to decommission part of its arsenal in advance of next week's threatened collapse of the Northern institutions.
Mr Ahern discussed the decision of the Ulster Unionists and Democratic Unionists to withdraw their ministers from the Executive with British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, during a one-day meeting of EU leaders in Ghent.
A collapse next week would be personally devastating, he said. "I will feel like zero next Wednesday or next Thursday if that happens. I have had contact with republicans every day since August. We have tried to clarify things. I can't honestly say that we will succeed this time. We believe that we have answered everything conclusively. We keep on trying to help. We all know what we have to achieve."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, and the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Dr John Reid, had held "useful discussions" in Dublin yesterday. "We all mindful that institutions can't be preserved for much longer. But we are not giving up hope."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Northern Secretary insisted they had "no information" to lead them to expect an imminent IRA move on weapons as rumours of a gesture circulate.
Mr Cowen and Mr Reid discussed the political impasse for more than an hour in Dublin yesterday, following which they repeated their calls for progress on the putting of arms beyond use. Both men also welcomed the statement by Mr David Trimble that his ministers, who resigned from the Northern Executive on Thursday, could be reappointed immediately in the event of real progress.
Mr Cowen told reporters that the resignations were "very regrettable... Our firm hope is that they are not irrevocable."
While saying he hoped for sufficient movement on arms he added: "I have no information that leads me to expect that. We can't make a judgment on the basis of rumours or speculation."
Dr Reid also expressed disappointment at the decision of the unionist ministers to withdraw. He said there was a seven-day period during which the unionist ministers could automatically resume office. There was a six-week period from the last suspension (ending on November 3rd) during which the First Minister and Deputy First Minister could be re-elected.
After that Dr Reid faces the choice between ordering a lengthy suspension of the institutions, fresh elections or another technical one-day suspension.
Another short suspension to allow a further six-week period for talks appears remote unless significant moves are believed to be imminent on November 3rd, the day the period for talks runs out.
Lagan Valley MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, speaking before a meeting of the Ulster Unionist 110-member executive yesterday, said an act of IRA decommissioning could restore the Executive.
He warned, however, that a single act would not be sufficient to ensure continuing Ulster Unionist participation in the institutions.
"If the IRA are in the business of a one-off gesture that isn't going to be enough. General de Chastelain's (decommissioning body) remit runs out in February. That means we need to see total disarmament by February." he said.