The Taoiseach refused to be drawn on the intentions of the IRA regarding the decommissioning of weapons.

"I hear many rumours about many things, but I am not prepared to speculate on any rumour about what the IRA might or might not do", Mr Ahern said. "Senator Mitchell has asked us all to be extremely careful, as we have been in this House over the past number of weeks. I will await his report, or his advice, before I speculate."

He was replying to the Fine Gael deputy leader, Mrs Nora Owen, who asked him to comment on weekend reports that the IRA was about to enter into what was called "technical decommissioning".

The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, asked what options would be open to the Irish and British governments if Senator Mitchell were to, regretfully, report that the final bridge could not be crossed and that progress could not be made.

If that was the case, Mr Ahern said, both governments would have to try to engage with the pro-agreement parties to see how aspects of the agreement could continue to be implemented.