The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister are to host talks with the Northern parties at Hillsborough next month in an attempt to move efforts to restore devolution up a gear.
Mr Ahern and Mr Tony Blair will hold a series of individual meetings with the parties on February 12th, but there will not be a round-table session. It is anticipated that further meetings will be needed before a deal can be fashioned.
Officials were keen to stress that the meetings at Hillsborough should not be seen as a "Weston Park mark 2". Mr Blair's official spokesman said it was simply an opportunity to update local politicians on both governments' current thinking.
The Irish Times was told that the parties would not be shown an outline deal and invited to comment. Rather, they would be "brought up to date on current thinking". A breakthrough is not anticipated, but one reliable source said last night that if agreement is not reached by March 13th, when political leaders meet in Washington for St Patrick's Day, "then we're in serious trouble".
The announcement concerning the two prime ministers followed a session of round-table talks at Stormont hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Northern Secretary.
At a post-talks press conference in Parliament Buildings both Mr Cowen and Mr Paul Murphy insisted the talks were productive despite the boycott by unionists of all shades.
The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, had earlier dismissed the meeting as "a charade", insisting the real business was being carried on at Downing Street where Sinn Féin has sent a substantial dossier seeking movement on a range of issues from demilitarisation to "on the run" prisoners.
Mr Murphy said those present at the talks discussed human rights, "normalisation" (usually a reference to the scaling down of the military presence), paramilitarism, policing and the possible devolution of criminal justice powers.
He confirmed that the parties would continue to meet among themselves in advance of the Ahern-Blair talks in two weeks.
Mr Cowen stressed what he said was the importance of the "pro-agreement family" meeting and discussing the political process.
Both ministers expressed dismay at the unionist boycott and argued that attempts to revive confidence took several forms including round-table talks, bilaterals and intervention by the two prime ministers.
Referring to the presence of only Sinn Féin, SDLP, Alliance and Women's Coalition delegations at the talks, Mr Cowen said topics such as paramilitarism, which were addressed at the round-table session were "not just an issue for one community, it's an issue for everyone". He added: "This is serious business." He encouraged unionists to take risks for an agreement so that they "could get the rewards which the electorate would give them in an ensuing election".
Questioned specifically about the Assembly poll scheduled for May 1st, Mr Murphy said there were no plans to do anything other than hold the election as planned.
Mr Cowen and Mr Murphy repeatedly emphasised their unity on the current approach. Mr Cowen concluded: "These two governments are going to work closely to put before the parties, based on their contributions to these discussions, a means by which we believe the institutions can be put back up and running. The people of Northern Ireland, who are entitled to have good governance, will be given the opportunity to vote for parties who show that politics works."