Fundamental political change in Northern Ireland was within grasp and current attitudes ought to be a basis for "profound optimism" the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr Paul Murphy, told a meeting of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body here yesterday.
A breakthrough in restoring the institutions could be possible within weeks, Mr Murphy said.
He added that intensive discussions and activity were underway to deal with the detail of the negotiations.
"I believe that within the next two weeks both sides will have the opportunity to take dramatic, decisive and unequivocal steps forward, which themselves will form the basis of a new relationship."
When asked about remarks by the Sinn Féin TD for Louth, Mr Arthur Morgan, who said he hoped that within the next few days members would be in a position to welcome a breakthrough, Mr Murphy said he was convinced there was a commitment to move forward by the parties in the north.
"I think we are talking weeks rather than months," the secretary of state said.
In his speech to the backbenchers from Leinster House and Westminster, Mr Murphy noted that while issues regarding the paramilitary and decommissioning required further address, the British and Irish governments were working to facilitate the parties moving forward.
While he noted that consensus could not be expected on all fronts, Mr Murphy said he hoped there would be enough to pull the process through.
He also said he hoped some of the processes would have moved forward by as early as Christmas, particularly in relation to the restoration of the institutions.
The Secretary of State said he was not in a position to comment on recent remarks by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahern, who spoke favourably of Sinn Féin entering government with Fianna Fáil in Dublin in the future.
"It is not for me to say if they go into coalition with other parties in the Republic, that is for other parties to say.
"But if they are a party like any other party, they are entitled under the rules of the game to become part of a government," Mr Murphy said.
Asked if he believed there would be a significant move from the IRA by the end of the month, as some people already believed, Mr Murphy said he sincerely hoped there would be.
However, he said this was a matter for the respective parties in Northern Ireland who would go into government with one another to contemplate.
"It is about convincing each other about the seriousness of what is going to happen that is important. But I am reasonably hopeful that we can get there."