The Taoiseach stressed the importance of decommissioning when he spoke in the Dail yesterday morning. Mr Ahern was responding to the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, who wished him well in his meeting later with the British Prime Minister.

The Taoiseach said that it would become clear during the day whether progress could be made. "Deputy Bruton can rest assured that there are not any alternatives if clarity is not achieved on the decommissioning issue . . .

"Product is not the issue, it is a question of achieving clarity. I made it clear yesterday, in the straightest and bluntest terms possible in front of a number of witnesses, that it is what the Government and House desire."

Mr Bruton said nobody should underestimate the difficulty of the task facing Mr Ahern and Mr Blair.

The Taoiseach agreed to a debate on the North next week and said that he would brief party leaders on any developments.