The Taoiseach's support for Sinn Féin's position on demilitarisation in the North is a "very welcome development in the peace process, party president Mr Gerry Adams said today.
Speaking after a meeting with Mr Ahern at Government Buildings this afternoon, Mr Adams said the Sinn Féin negotiating team was still awaiting the next development and that "issues remain to be sorted".
The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Tony Blair said late last week that a deadline for agreement could not be stretched indefinitely and indicated that a deal would be required today or tomorrow at the latest.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams
However, the DUP leader Mr Ian Paisley is meeting with Mr Blair this afternoon to discuss IRA decommissioning and it is now almost certain that another peace process deadline has slipped.
The Sinn Féin negotiating team were due to meet Mr Blair tomorrow but a clearly frustrated Mr Adams said the date may be deferred for a day because of the uncertainty surrounding the DUPs position.
He was positive about the long-terms chances of a deal but refused to refused speculate on a timescale though he said his party pushing for a speedy resolution to the outstanding issues.
"We are concerned that the timeframe is stretching we want to see all of this done very, very quickly indeed
"I don't want to play up expectations - the fact is we don't have a deal done yet. But it is our firm view that because we want a deal that if we keep pushing at it we will get a deal.
"When will it happen? At this point I just don't know but we're keeping pushing at it. And we don't even contemplate failure."
He said the focus of today's meeting was demilitarisation which he described as a "hugely important issue". British forces remain in Republican heartlands, he said, adding that the commitment made seven years under the Belfast Agreement on demilitarisation must now be tied down.
"I welcome his support for the position we have taken up on this issue. I think it's a very welcome development and one which I hope will have an impression".
He refused to speculate on the details of what level of troop withdrawal was required but said: "As far as I am concerned, as an Irish republican I want the British troops out of here for good and forever and as soon as possible."
Refrring to Rev Pailsey's insistence that the IRA must be publicly humiliated, Mr Adams appealed to "those who really want to do a deal to try and couch it in terms which they would find acceptable to themselves".
Mr Paisley today repeated comments he made on Saturday when he said the IRA "need to wear their sackcloth and ashes, not in a backroom but openly".