Another move by the British government to postpone Northern Ireland's Assembly Elections would be extremely regrettable, Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny said during a visit to Belfast today.
Mr Kenny said he hoped unionists and nationalists would accept the British and Irish Governments' blueprint for moving the Belfast Agreement forward when it is unveiled this month.
With speculation mounting the Assembly poll could be moved from May to October if parties reject the plan, Mr Kenny said it was "the hope of everyone that this process can move forward and the Assembly can be reconstituted".
"Certainly the governments appear to be saying that a delay in the elections is not on the cards but if that were to happen it would be extremely regrettable indeed," he said.
Mr Kenny also repeated his support for an end to all paramilitary activity. "The removal of all paramilitarism is a key objective and I just hope everybody will get on with it," he said. "Clearly when you talk to unionists they believe there must be a big move from the IRA".
Last month, Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy moved the date of the Assembly elections to May 29th to give the pro-Agreement parties more time to accept the governments' blueprint.
The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, are expected to travel to Hillsbrough Castle next Thursday to unveil their proposals for implementing the Agreement in full.
Mr Kenny - who was accompanied by five Fine Gael TDs and Senators Paul Bradford, John Paul Phelan and Fergal Browne -visited Holy Cross Primary School in north Belfast.
The school was the scene of a bitter sectarian dispute in autumn 2001 when loyalist Glenbryn residents picketed parents and pupils.
The Fine Gael delegation is to meet Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists and nationalist SDLP at Stormont. Mr Kenny has also arranged talks today with the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Chief Constable Hugh Orde.