Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and NI Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness held probably their final meeting with departing British prime minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street yesterday afternoon.
Mr Adams said that they had reviewed the overall political situation and the need to make progress on other issues, not least the financial package underwriting the new devolved Executive and Assembly at Stormont.
Mr McGuinness said that he was looking forward to meeting Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, when he visits Stormont on Monday.
Mr Salmond will have talks with First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley and later address the Assembly.
In other meetings, Northern Ireland's employment and learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has lobbied senior EU politicians in an attempt to ensure that Europe continues to focus on the peace process.
On a two-day visit to Brussels Sir Reg met the secretary-general of the European Commission, Catherine Day, the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, and the deputy director-generals of regional policy and employment.
Sir Reg also met officials of the British representation to the EU during one of the first high-profile tours of the EU institutions by a Northern Irish Minister since the Executive was re-established.