Negotiations are taking place at Stormont tonight in a bid to break the deadlock between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists over policing.
Sinn Féin policing spokesman Gerry Kelly and DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson were involved in the talks with the Northern Ireland Office as both parties tried to close the gap between them.
A Stormont source saod: "The talks that are taking place involve senior personnel in both parties. There is no face-to-face dialogue.
"It would appear the British government has bought into suggestions that there could be a meeting of Sinn Féin's ard chomhairle called by Gerry Adams either before or over Christmas.
"The question is whether the DUP and Sinn Féin can reach agreement on which party moves first on support for the police or a date for the devolution of policing and justice powers."
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair have identified Sinn Féin support for the PSNI and a commitment from the DUP to share power as the twin pillars of their plan to revive power sharing in Northern Ireland by next March.
DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley has already indicated his willingness to share power with Sinn Féin provided Gerry Adams and his party clearly demonstrate support for the police, the courts and the rule of law.
Sinn Féin is the only one of the four parties who would qualify for posts in a Stormont power sharing government which refuses to publicly support the PSNI or encourage its voters to cooperate with police investigations.
If Mr Adams's party is to change its policy towards the PSNI, he will first have to call a meeting of his national executive and secure two thirds backing for a special party conference on the issue.
However Mr Adams and Mr Kelly, who have both received police warnings that they are being targeted by dissident republicans, have insisted Sinn Féin needs a date from the DUP for the devolution of policing and justice from Westminster to Stormont before they can set in motion a change of policy.
They also want agreement from the DUP on the type of Government department that will handle justice and policing powers and assurances that MI5 will have no future role in policing.