The Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, said last night that all parties, including republicans, now accepted the analysis of the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, that radical "acts of completion" must be executed to rescue the political process.
Mr Murphy said that today's London meeting between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and Mr Blair would be primarily about developing a strategy and structure to meet the requirements of the various parties so that the Executive and Assembly could be restored ahead of May elections.
Amid continuing speculation that the IRA is prepared to demonstrate that its war is over, Mr Murphy said there was a general consensus that all parties needed to move radically to restore confidence.
Today's Downing Street Ahern-Blair meeting would be about establishing the principles necessary to assist all the parties in forging a deal in the coming weeks, he added.
His comments are in line with remarks from senior Dublin and London insiders who said that the British and Irish governments were convinced that the essentials of an agreement to restore devolution in Northern Ireland were in place, but that it might take until mid-March before it was clearly established that it could be implemented.
They added that the two leaders would today prepare an outline on how issues such as persuading the IRA to end all activity, persuading Ulster Unionists to reciprocate any genuine IRA move, British army demilitarisation and policingcould be resolved by mid-March.
The period around St Patrick's Day, when many Northern politicians are in Washington, is the effective deadline that must be met to legislatively allow Assembly elections to be called on May 1st.
The sources also placed great store on this morning's meeting between the Taoiseach and the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, in London.
The Irish source said that as well as seeking "clarity" from republicans on what the IRA might deliver, Mr Ahern and Mr Blair wanted assurances from Mr Trimble that if the IRA moved substantially he would try to sell the deal to his constituency.
"The tea-leaves are saying the elements of a deal are there. How to structure that agreement is another matter. That will be the work for the period ahead," he added.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, has again indicated that republicans would respond positively if outstanding republican demands were met.
Referring to Mr Blair's demand for republican acts of completion Mr McGuinness said: "We're for that also."
He added, however: "I have not heard or seen anything from the British government which would indicate the British Prime Minister is up for acts of completion on policing, demilitarisation, human rights and equality.
"Maybe in the aftermath of [today's Ahern-Blair] meeting, we will hear a different tune being sung, and if that is the case I think all of us will be able to rise to that challenge."
