Sinn Féin has not ruled out holding a special ardfheis to end its refusal to join the Northern Ireland Policing Board before the November 24th deadline to restore the North's political institutions.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Tánaiste Michael McDowell and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern yesterday met Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and SDLP leader Mark Durkan at separate meetings in Dublin.
The Taoiseach and other ministers will travel to St Andrews near Edinburgh tomorrow for talks involving British prime minister Tony Blair and the Northern political parties.
Speaking after his Government Buildings meeting, Mr Adams said "a relentless focus" was needed by all sides to reach a deal under the timetable set by the two governments.
"We also made the point that there is no more important issue. All other concerns must be put to one side," said Mr Adams, who was accompanied by Martin McGuinness.
Meanwhile, senior Irish officials held talks in London over the last two Fridays with senior British Treasury counterparts in an effort to secure a "peace dividend" investment for Northern Ireland.
