The British government views Mr Gerry Adams's speech as detailed and thoughtful and will take time to consider it fully, a well-placed source told The Irish Times last night.
The source was reluctant to say anything beyond this, claiming that time and consideration following a significant speech were appropriate and that this was what Sinn Féin had accorded the Prime Minister after his address in Belfast 11 days ago.
However, there were indications last night that the British side was encouraged by some elements of Mr Adams's speech.
It is understood that the tone and the content of his remarks are being interpreted positively by the British government.
There is apparently a sense of encouragement, with a feeling that there is some serious talking to be done on both sides.
References by Mr Adams to "acts of completion" appear to have been welcomed.
Earlier this month, during a brief visit to Belfast, Mr Blair said:
"We cannot carry on with the IRA half-in, half-out of this process. Not just because it isn't right any more; it won't work any more."
In a blunt speech, Mr Blair said: "How come the Irish Government won't allow Sinn Féin to be in government in the South until the IRA ceases its activity, but unionists must have them in government in the North?"
The new Northern Secretary has no plans to refer in detail to the Sinn Féin president's speech this week.
Mr Paul Murphy is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral discussions with the Northern parties, to begin once parliamentary obligations in London today and tomorrow are met.
The Taoiseach welcomed Mr Adams's speech.
"His strong statement of determination to keep the process intact and of the recognition of the need to bring closure to all of the key issues is a positive contribution at this difficult time in the process," Mr Ahern said.
"I share his view that the process we are all embarked upon must involve irreversible change on all sides."
The SDLP continues to press for a recalling of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation as a means of involving all pro-agreement forces in Ireland.
It is understood that Mr Mark Durkan, the leader of the SDLP, wants widespread involvement in efforts to revive the Stormont institutions, and is keen not to be marginalised as Sinn Féin engages directly with the British government.
Mr Durkan has indicated he will expand on the current crisis in his leader's address to the SDLP conference which opens in Armagh on Friday.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme yesterday about the reaction to his speech, Mr Adams said he had tried to avoid the "crazy situation" of "playing the blame game" in his speech.
He wanted to put forward "sensible and logical and rational suggestions of how all of this can be sorted out and I also think we should remind each other - all of us - that this process has brought about great progress.
" If I had suggested - or any of our leadership had suggested - that we were going to withdraw Martin McGuinness or Bairbre de Brún, our two ministers, from the Executive because there are things wrong with the process from our perspective, does anyone imagine for one moment that the British government would have come in and suspended the institutions?" he asked.