Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble held talks with Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams this morning, it has emerged.
In a short statement Mr Trimble confirmed the talks took place in Stormont.
"The discussions were simply part of a normal process of keeping in touch with all parties involved in the political process," Mr Trimble added.
A spokesperson for Mr Adams said after the meeting that the party would not "publicly rehearsing all the issues discussed by the two leaders. It is a matter of public knowledge that we are pressing for an election date as soon as possible.
"The least said at this point the better. No-one should under estimate the difficulties that have to be overcome," the spokesman added.
The meeting follows secret discussions between Mr Adams, Mr Martin McGuinness and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, last week.
The talks are part of a new initiative to try to restore devolution to Northern Ireland, according to informed sources. The confidential meeting with Mr Blair took place in London last Wednesday and was followed the day after by a publicised meeting in Dublin between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness.
The British and Irish governments are hoping that a new set of sequencing acts, primarily involving movement from the IRA, can be set in train to allow autumn elections, well-placed sources told The Irish Times on Tuesday.
