The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, will today try to reach agreement on an approach to implementing parts of the Joint Declaration on the North published last week.
Mr Blair flies in to Dublin Airport at 3.30 p.m. this afternoon for a meeting at Farmleigh with Mr Ahern, who is attending an all-day Cabinet meeting on the economy.
Sources in Dublin said the two leaders will try to identify the parts of the Joint Declaration that can be implemented in the absence of further political progress following Mr Blair's decision to suspend the Northern Ireland elections scheduled for May 29th.
Today's meeting follows a long period of intensive political activity during which Mr Ahern and Mr Blair were in contact by telephone almost daily.
Despite the setback last week, the two leaders are said to be keen to find a means of making further progress. Any agreement on the approach will be followed by further talks on implementation between Irish and British officials.
With the two governments seeking to maintain some momentum in the political process, it is also likely to be discussed at meetings in the coming weeks with the pro-agreement parties.
There is resistance to the idea of setting another election date for the early autumn, the timescale favoured by Mr Blair.
A well-placed source at Stormont said it was more important to foster confidence in the political process than set new deadlines.
The British government says it is keen to work out a way forward at the talks, which will begin with a private meeting for about 20 minutes between Mr Blair and Mr Ahern.
The leaders will then be joined by officials for an hour-long meeting. They are expected to make only a short public statement afterwards.
The Irish Times was told last night it was not possible to make progress on each outstanding aspect of the Joint Declaration, especially on items specifically linked to "acts of completion" by paramilitaries.
Progress on fugitive paramilitaries, or on-the-runs, is "a definite no", said one source. Other subjects are dependent on the local parties talking, the source said, and that could prove difficult at this time.
The model of the devolution of policing and justice powers could be an example, according to the source.
There could be movement on "normalisation" of the British army presence but perhaps not within the three-year timescale originally envisaged if the paramilitary threat had not diminished.
However, apart from these, there were no apparent areas on which the governments could not move, the source added.
It was also confirmed that both the British and Irish governments had been active in suggesting texts for a "suitable" IRA statement in the four weeks leading up to the decision to call off Assembly elections.
Following the failure to achieve such a statement, there was a palpable feeling of exasperation, weariness and disappointment, the source said.
While the IRA has indicated that it will publish a statement given to the two governments in April, separate sources played down the possibility that implementation of parts of the Joint Declaration might prompt further clarity from the IRA in terms of its future intentions.
After Mr Ahern's public opposition to the suspension of the elections, the two leaders are expected at a press conference this evening to reaffirm their joint commitment to the process.
While it was admitted that the two governments were in disagreement over the decision to postpone the election, sources said there was unity on the overall strategy.
Mr Blair is expected to meet other Government members at Farmleigh after his meeting. The prime minister, who is celebrating his 50th birthday today, is expected to leave for London at about 6 p.m.