Ahern and Blair to meet for talks on North stalemate

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are to meet tomorrow to discuss their latest push to restore devolution in the North.

The meeting at Mr Blair's Chequers residence comes amid ongoing doubt about the prospects for progress before the November 24 deadline set by the Irish and British governments.

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern is also due to meet SDLP leader Mark Durkan in Derry today to discuss the situation.

The two governments have given the Northern parties until November 24 to reach agreement on forming a power-sharing executive.

However, while all the other parties are willing to participate, the DUP is still refusing to share power with Sinn Féin.

The hardline unionist party insists the IRA is still involved in criminality and paramilitarism, despite the Independent Monitoring Commission's conclusion that the republican movement is honouring its commitment to end all illegal activity.

Dublin and London are planning to arrange a round of negotiations among the parties before November 24, but DUP leader Ian Paisley said yesterday that this would be a waste of time and money.