Mr David Trimble seems certain to put his resignation threat on ice following last night's statement by the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, effectively giving the IRA one week to clarify if and when it will decommission its arms.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said last night, following a meeting in St Austell in Cornwall with the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, that not enough progress had been made on the decommissioning issue.
"We must make further progress to try to resolve this issue" he said. "This issue must be dealt with in the manner set down. We must have clarity, we must be honest to ourselves, to the people and the governments that what we sell is something everybody understands". Speaking at a joint press conference following his meeting with Mr Ahern, Mr Blair also said there had been "progress" but said "the Good Friday Agreement has to be implemented in all its aspects. That includes the issue of decommissioning. It has to be confronted and resolved in a clear way. This is the clarity that the situation demands."
Earlier in the Commons, in a statement which went considerably further than the Irish Government had wanted, the Northern Secretary said he would publish a Bill this morning which would enable him to suspend the institutions of the Belfast Agreement and reinstate direct rule by the end of next week.
Mr Mandelson said that "even at this very late stage" it was right that negotiations should continue, and he held out hope that Gen de Chastelain might yet be able to produce a further report providing "clarity" and "certainty" of republican intent.
Arriving in St Austell, Cornwall, to meet Mr Blair, Mr Ahern said he was there "to report some progress". In response to a question he said he hoped the suspension of the institutions was not inevitable, saying: "We have moved some way forward."
In the Commons, Mr Mandelson said the de Chastelain commission would need "further evidence" to substantiate its conclusion of last July that decommissioning would happen. "In particular, they need definite information about when decommissioning will actually start."
The Secretary of State told MPs he would introduce the Bill giving him powers to suspend the Executive and other institutions early next week.
It is understood he intends to introduce the legislation in the Commons on Tuesday, and that it should have completed its progress through the Lords by Wednesday night. It would almost certainly be on the statute book by Thursday night, with an Order bringing it into effect the following day.
The indications last night were that the commencement of the parliamentary process pointing to suspension would be enough to stay Mr Trimble's post-dated letter of resignation, due to become operative from midnight.
The Ulster Unionist leader said last night that the matter was not in his hands, and that he would be meeting his party's president, Sir Josias Cunningham, and other senior officers in Belfast at 10 a.m. today. However, it is understood that Mr Trimble has the backing of his deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, for delay and the expectation is that Sir Josias would not force the issue at this point.
Mr Trimble also indicated that he would be prepared to meet the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, provided request was for "a serious discussion" and was "not merely a publicity stunt".
However, last night's exchanges in the Commons revealed the continuing chasm between Mr Trimble's demand for actual IRA product, and the British government's insistence that the IRA indicate its intention to comply with the May 22nd deadline set out in the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Trimble told Mr Mandelson: "Now that the basis on which we proceeded to devolution has been falsified, we now have no alternative and cannot continue in an administration with those who have disappointed the hopes that were created."
He asked Mr Mandelson for an assurance that "unless there is clear, significant and verifiable decommissioning within the next few days," he would proceed to suspension. The Northern Ireland Secretary did not respond directly to this, when telling Mr Trimble that his "strength and determination" would be needed again to keep the process moving.
Mr Mandelson confirmed that "there has not been an adequate engagement with Gen de Chastelain" by any paramilitary group, which he described as "a betrayal of the people of Northern Ireland".
However, he denied a suggestion from Mr Taylor that the de Chastelain report had concluded that the sheer magnitude of the IRA's arsenal would mean decommissioning would have to begin immediately if the May deadline was to be met.
Mr Mandelson said no one was trying to set new deadlines on decommissioning, nor trying to rewrite the Belfast Agreement.
The Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, said Mr Mandelson was aware of his view that "suspension at this time, and in this context, would be unwise".
The priority, he suggested, was to allow Gen de Chastelain to obtain the answers to two questions: "Will you decommission. And, if yes, when will you decommission."