The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister are believed to be determined to push for an early result in the negotiations next week which may determine the future of the Belfast Agreement.
Contrary to earlier indications, official sources yesterday insisted that Mr Ahern and Mr Tony Blair want to see the issues resolved and a conclusion reached by midweek, if possible by late Tuesday night.
With the July 12th celebrations imposing their own effective Wednesday deadline, it had been understood Mr Ahern and Mr Blair were prepared to resume negotiations at Weston Park conference centre, Shropshire, on Friday or Saturday.
There were the strongest indications last night, however, that the leaders have decided not to continue on Friday and Saturday in an effort to push for a conclusion earlier. It was stressed this was not the result of diary pressure or the Taoiseach's visit to Brazil and Argentina starting on July 16th.
"If we allow this to drag on then we'll get brinkmanship. The attitude of both men is that we know the issues and what needs to be done; if there's a deal, let's get on with it," said an insider.
There have been indications of growing confidence in Dublin in the past 48 hours that the decommissioning deadlock might be about to be broken.
British sources refused, however, to say whether this high energy approach to the negotiation reflected any security advice to Mr Blair about the possible intentions of the IRA on the arms issue, on which all other aspects of the negotiation will turn.
It has also become clear that, if a deal is to emerge early next week, nationalists and republicans expect the future protection of the institutions of government from political threat to rank alongside policing and demilitarisation as a central issue in the negotiations.
The two leaders will meet for bilateral talks at Downing Street early on Monday before travelling to Shropshire, where it is expected they will begin negotiations with a round-table meeting with the main pro-agreement parties.
Declaring the negotiations offered "a clear opportunity to move forward", Mr Blair's official spokesman said both governments believed the Belfast Agreement could be implemented in full and it was not a question of time but political will.
Our Belfast staff write: The move to Weston Park in Shropshire, 30 minutes from Birmingham, is aimed at focusing minds and reducing distractions.
Sinn Fein, however, yesterday stressed that a new approach was needed to the outstanding issues rather than the venue.
An Ulster Unionist spokesman welcomed moving the talks, saying there would be "fewer distractions" there.
The SDLP also endorsed the move, insisting it was in line with the party's demand to get back to the original format of the Belfast Agreement.