Mr Gerry Adams said yesterday that he would need to see substantial legislative changes before he would consider calling a Sinn Féin ardfheis to consider endorsing the new Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The party president claimed he did not know what amendments were planned by the British government in the next session of parliament, nor did anyone else, a position contradicted by the SDLP last night.
"What is in the legislative amendments at the moment no one knows," Mr Adams said. "The Irish Government don't know, the SDLP don't know, we don't know. Only the British know and it is the content of the amendments which will decide the future of policing in this part of the world," he said.
"We will face up to this issue democratically. We will call a special ardfheis if our leadership is convinced that there is a threshold by which we can move forward.
"We will argue it out democratically and we will take our decisions and we will be bound by those decisions," he added.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, yesterday greeted Sinn Féin's position, saying the idea of calling an ardfheis was "positive".
"I don't think anything's going to happen overnight but I did have a lengthy meeting with Gerry Adams on Monday and I've talked to the SDLP and I've talked to David Trimble in the last few days.
"I think it is helpful," he added.
However, the SDLP said it was aware of British legislative proposals and that these would bring the current position closer to the Patten recommendations.
Mr Alex Attwood told The Irish Times last night: "The government has said these \ are in the public domain and has repeatedly confirmed how the Patten police Act is to be amended. The Prime Minister confirmed it again to the SDLP leader last week."
The Irish Times understands that 11 amendments are in the pipeline and that, while minor in appearance, they will significantly alter the legislative framework.
These changes are aimed at strengthening community policing, clarifying the limits of the Northern Secretary's power over the Policing Board, obliging the Chief Constable to take account of the Policing Board's written plans, and abolishing some of the powers of censure of both the Northern Secretary and the Chief Constable.
The amendments would also reduce the number of Policing Board votes needed to instigate an inquiry, from a simple majority of 10 to eight.
The changes would further enhance the Police Ombudsman's powers, make it an offence to obstruct one of her investigations, and commit the Police Oversight Commissioner to monitor the preferred use of the title PSNI instead of the old RUC name.
Republican Sinn Féin is scathing of any Sinn Féin moves to back policing in the North.
Its president, Mr Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, said: "When Gerry Adams agrees to the renamed Royal Ulster Constabulary, he will be putting in the last piece of the jigsaw of a restructured British rule in Ireland.
"From there it will be only a short step towards actively recruiting for the British forces of occupation."