All IRA weapons and explosives are expected to be put beyond use in time for the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in May 2003, the Taoiseach Mr Ahern said this evening.
But there was little prospect of loyalist paramilitaries going down the same path and putting their arsenals beyond use, Mr Ahern said.
In the Dáil today, Mr Ahern was asked what information he had received from General John de Chastelain's Independent International Commission on Decommissioning.
Referring to IRA decommissioning he said: "I think the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning do not want to stay unduly late.
"They are prepared to see it out for a period of time but I know General John de Chastelain has been putting on pressure for some time to move on to completion."
He added: "There is not a date (but) I think there is a determination that it will not be drifting on into the election next year in the north."
Mr Ahern's comments came after a second act of IRA decommissioning, described as "substantial", was confirmed by Gen de Chastelain on April 8th. That followed the first, historic move last in October last year.
But there was little hope of loyalists putting weapons beyond use, Mr Ahern told the house.
Asked by Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan if there was any progress towards such a move, Mr Ahern replied: "Unfortunately, that is easy to answer - no. None whatsoever.
"There does not seem (to be) any real engagement or any evidence of it. I do not see that arising from what I've heard for some considerable amount of time. I do not think it is on the horizon from what I pick up from security sources."
Ulster Unionist leader and Northern Ireland First Minister Mr Trimble met top loyalists on Monday and urged them to follow the IRA line by putting weapons beyond use.
Despite the plea to the Loyalist Commission, which comprises the Ulster Volunteer Force, Red Hand Commandos and the Ulster Defence Association, there is no sign of loyalist engagement with the de Chastelain commission.
Sinn Féin president Mr Adams, speaking in Dublin after routine talks with Mr Ahern, said: "Let the decommissioning body and the armed groups sort this out.
"I think there has been huge progress made in terms of republican weapons and the Sinn Féin objective of taking all the guns out of Irish politics."
But he added: "There has been little progress on the British side and none on the loyalist side."
Mr Adams disclosed that he initially wished the second decommissioning move had happened two weeks earlier, but said it was "fortuitous" it did not occur then as it would have coincided with First Minister Mr Trimble's remarks to the Ulster Unionist Council conference that the Republic was "sectarian" and "pathetic".
"Had it happened at that time when David Trimble had gone on, as I am sure he would he would have, to make the remarks he made, it would have cause all sorts of difficulties for republicans," he said.
PA