The DUP indicated last night that more time was needed for the IRA to "fulfil requirements" and for devolution to be restored.
Responding to comments by the British Prime Minister, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson said his party's commitment to finding "a better agreement" at next week's Leeds Castle talks were "absolutely clear".
Mr Tony Blair had earlier questioned the will of the parties to find an agreement to break the political impasse. He was speaking in his Sedgefield constituency after his talks with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Mr Donaldson, the Lagan Valley MP, told The Irish Times: "We will be going to Leeds Castle hoping to get a deal that will deliver real and lasting peace and stability. We certainly have the will. The question is: is there a way?" He continued: "It is down to the IRA to break the deadlock. In the absence of a clear and decisive movement by the IRA on the arms issue and on paramilitary disbandment it is difficult to see how we are going to get progress at this level. We may have to look at other ways of moving the process forward."
Mr Donaldson suggested more time was needed. He said it would take time for the IRA to "fulfil any commitments it has given".
"Anyone who believes these things are going to happen overnight aren't in touch with reality. However, we hope that all the outstanding issues can be resolved within a fairly clear timetable so that some time next year we can get devolution restored." He reiterated that the DUP required "completion, not promises".
Earlier, the SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan said the real question to be addressed at the Leeds Castle talks was what is going to be done to end suspension. Speaking in Belfast he said: "The longer suspension goes on, the more Direct Rule is hurting us all. All the parties claim common ground in opposition to Direct Rule. If this is the case, then let all the parties commit to ensuring suspension is lifted as soon as possible."
Alluding to the possibility of failure next week, Mr Durkan again flagged his party's proposals for the establishment of civic administrators to take the role of an Executive pending restoration of all the Stormont institutions. Such administrators would be accountable to a recalled Assembly.
Mr Durkan said: "If the talks fail to achieve agreement, the SDLP has put forward proposals that offer the only positive alternative. If, on the other hand, the talks do generate the prospect of the parties forming an Executive at some point in the future, our proposals again have compelling value."