The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister will host a round of political talks with the pro-Belfast Agreement parties at Hillsborough tomorrow amid growing concern over the stability of the North's political institutions.
The high-profile day of discussion comes as the unionists continue to express anger over what they claim have been unpunished breaches of the IRA ceasefire. Dissidents in the party are continuing to agitate to have Sinn Féin Ministers thrown out of the North's Executive, and there is speculation that they may mount another challenge against the North's First Minister and UUP leader, Mr David Trimble.
While Mr Trimble comfortably saw off a motion last month seeking a UUP withdrawal from the Executive, both pro-and anti-agreement figures in the party say IRA activity in recent months is causing great anger within the party. The visit by alleged IRA members to Colombia, alleged IRA involvement in the Castlereagh break-in and continuing street violence in the North are cited by unionists as examples of unacceptable republican activity in breach of the ceasefire.
At the weekend, Sinn Féin chairman Mr Mitchell McLaughlin said Sinn Féin should do more to curb street violence, while party president Mr Gerry Adams said he would do all he could to end republican violence.
Today's round of meetings was agreed on the margin of a British-Irish Council meeting in Jersey last month. A government spokeswoman said yesterday the two leaders intended to listen carefully to what was said by the pro-agreement parties. No substantial agreement or policy departure is expected to emerge.