MR David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist Party leader, is expected to seek informal discussions with, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, later this week. The two are scheduled to appear at a session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday afternoon.
The Northern Ireland Secretary, Sir Patrick Mayhew, the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, and the Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, are also due to attend the Friday session devoted to consideration of the Northern Ireland peace process.
Careful choreography of the event has been demanded to ensure Mr Trimble and Mr McLaughlin appear separately before the forum. However, after some apparent doubt, it seemed likely last night that Mr Trimble would, after all, share the platform with Mr Spring.
Sources say the timetable of the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be tight on Friday, with the opportunity for any discussion with Mr Trimble likely to be limited.
However, between now and then, the Ulster Unionist Party leader will receive a formal invitation to talks with the three Government coalition partners.
The signs last night were that Mr Trimble would reject any invitation within the framework of the twin track process. But his response will be regarded in Dublin as an acid test of the UUP's willingness and capacity to persuade nationalists that their proposal for an "elective process" in the North has merit.
Mr Trimble is expected to review developments with the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, possibly later this week. Major meets Mr Hume at Westminster this afternoon.