Talks between representatives of two governments and Sinn Féin in Hillsborough Castle today have been described as "stock-taking, ground-clearing discussions".
Martin McGuinness
The SDLP and the Ulster Unionists opted not to meet both ministers today and will instead hold talks with them later this month. However, the Democratic Unionists' Nigel Dodds ruled out his party's participation in the meeting, claiming that protestant civil rights needed to be addressed first.
Speaking outside Hillsborough Sinn Féin's Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness said he wanted Mr Paisley to show whether he would stand by his word and enter government with Sinn Féin now that the IRA had decommissioned its weapons.
He accused Mr Paisley of betraying his own electorate and failing to show the new confident face of unionism he promised following the last general election.
Mr McGuinness said: "For almost nine months of the last year the British prime minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern spent many long hours trying to convince Gerry Adams and myself that Ian Paisley would go into government with Sinn Fein if only the issue of arms could be resolved".
He said they had emphasised "Ian Paisley told them that the only issue that he was concerned about was the issue of arms - if that could be resolved he was prepared to go into government with Sinn Fein.
"Ian Paisley tells us he is a man of god, I would like to know whether he is a man of his word."
He said republicans had "delivered big time" by resolving the arms issue and had a right to inspect against that backdrop whether Ian Paisley would respond positively.
Peter Hain played down expectations over the talks describing them as "stock-taking, ground-clearing discussions."
Mr Ahern said he welcomed the opportunity to meet the parties this week and next adding: "Hopefully in the new year we can get down to more serious discussions."
He pointed out that Dublin had held discussions with the DUP and that the Taoiseach would be meeting them again in Dublin next Friday.
The legislation would also enable police officers, soldiers and intelligence agents who colluded with paramilitaries to avoid arrest.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are hoping to restore powersharing at Stormont next year on the back of a positive report by ceasefire watchdog the Independent Monitoring Commission next January on IRA, loyalist and other republican paramilitary activity.
The meetings today follow the publication last week of controversial legislation that would enable paramilitaries who have been on-the-run abroad since the Troubles to return to Northern Ireland safe in the knowledge that they will not be arrested or serve prison sentences for offences they might have committed.