The spokesman for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, responded to last night's report on UTV about moves towards an election in the North by saying that no date had been set for the election.
As Mr Cowen met in Dublin with the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, there was no indication of a significant breakthrough.
Later, Mr Cowen said he was satisfied that mainstream republicans were not involved in recent intimidation and threats. "I'm satisfied that condemnations that have emanated from Martin McGuinness represent the Sinn Féin position," he said.
Mr Cowen said dissident republicans involved in the campaign would be pursued with the full rigours of the law on both sides of the Border.
The two governments continued to emphasise the need for a decisive move on an ending to paramilitarism by republicans and assurance from the Ulster Unionists that a stable government could be formed.
But with the political dialogue set to intensify radically in the next fortnight, both governments indicated they had detected positive signals from the political parties in the North.
Mr Cowen said: "The Irish government is encouraged by the contacts that we've been having that people realise that there are responsibilities which have to be met on all sides."
Mr Murphy said: "There's no question in my mind that there is a determination amongst the parties that they want devolution back, and they want to work together, despite the difficulties."
Asked about the Adams-Trimble meeting yesterday, Mr Murphy said he understood the meeting went well.
Mr Murphy said: "I know that people will understand in Northern Ireland that the resolution of the difficulties that we faced very much fall within the remit of the leaders of those two parties."
He believed the parties in the North "are actually understanding how important it is to build up trust between each other so they can establish devolved government".
Mr Cowen had earlier met with the Sinn Féin chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness.
Mr McGuinness said nobody was under "any illusions whatever" about what was required to break the impasse.
While stating that the Sinn Féin leadership had "never shirked its responsibilities", he said there were no guarantees.
