Stalled talks on reviving the Northern Assembly will resume next week, the British government said today.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said the North's political parties had been invited to talks involving both the British and Irish governments next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The process began earlier this year, but was suspended when campaigning began for Thursday's elections to the European Parliament.
British government sources say if a deal appears within their grasp Prime Minister Mr Blair the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern may hold a summit later this month.
"Whether prime ministers become involved is really a question of whether they think it's going to be useful," said a British source. "They've said they would like to, if it would be useful. That judgment will have to be made next week."