British and Irish Ministers were today considering the idea of roundtable talks to rescue the Northern peace process.
Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid is meeting the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen to discuss the proposal at talks in Dublin.
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Dr John Reid
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Speaking to reporters before his meeting with Foreign Minister Mr Brian Cowen, Dr Reid said: "The important thing is that we have to move forward. The price for all of us is so great and the consequences of failure so awful."
Mr Cowen told reporters he and Dr Reid would "take stock" of the progress that has already been made.
He said: "We will be briefing each other on what progress we can record. We are determined to move this process forward. Significant progress has been made."
It is the first time the two Ministers have met since Dr Reid replaced Mr Peter Mandelson last month.
The idea was proposed by the SDLP at a meeting with British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair in Downing Street yesterday.
The SDLP is also due in Dublin for midday talks with the Taoiseach Mr Ahern as pressure mounts on the peace process.
A Sinn Féin delegation will meet Mr Ahern at 2 p.m. and the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, will lead an Ulster Unionist Party delegation to Government buildings at 3.30 p.m.
Sinn Féin leader Mr Gerry Adams said his party would not have any objections to the idea of a meeting all the pro-Agreement parties supporting the Agreement in a bid to bolster the peace process.
However, he said it was important not to lose sight of the fact it was the British government who was in default of the Belfast Agreement over its policing reforms and plans to normalise security in Northern Ireland.
Speaking in Belfast before leaving for the Dublin talks, Mr Adams said: "To bring people together in a round-table format is fair enough but the issue still is will Mr Blair tackle the whole policing crisis?
The process is deadlocked over IRA decommissioning, scaling down British army bases and policing.
An SDLP Minister in the Executive warned last night the Belfast Agreement is in "grave danger of collapse" unless the problems are resolved swiftly. Higher and Further Education Minister Mr Séan Farren, urged the British and Irish Governments to "urgently call" round-table talks.
If a formula cannot be struck it is widely believed there will be a review of the Belfast Agreement.
Last night anti-agreement Ulster Unionist MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson called for the Executive to be suspended if a review takes place.
PA