Trimble in Dublin for talks with Ahern

The Taoiseach is to meet the Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble in Dublin later today.

It is likely to be the last meeting between the two men before the British general election and Mr Trimble is expected to ask the Taoiseach to bring pressure on the IRA to decommission its weapons.

The First Minister is facing a difficult election campaign and will need all the help he can get from Bertie Ahern.

However, it seems extremely unlikely that the IRA will move while the ban remains on Sinn Fein ministers attending cross-border meetings, a measure which a Belfast court ruled unlawful.

Mr Ahern has already said there is only a week to go before all talks will have to be called off to allow the election campaign to begin.