Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, will brief the party hierarchy this evening against a background of Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, saying the IRA's latest statement on decommissioning "does not go far enough".
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, agree with the former first minister's assessment but think the IRA clarification statement issued last Sunday is only marginally short of what is required.
The two leaders have met twice on the fringes of the EU summit in Athens in the past 24 hours and discussions are continuing between officials from both governments.
A spokesman for Mr Blair said this morning's meeting "was an opportunity to exchange views again on the continuing process". "It was a useful discussion. Discussions will continue," he added.
Sinn Féin want the governments to publish their blueprint for fully implementing the Belfast Agreement but both are reluctant to do so before the IRA announce a definitive end to their activities.
The UUP insists time is running out for agreement before the elections set for May 29th but the Taoiseach is understood to believe the process can yet be rescued and Mr Blair is committed to holding the elections with or without UUP endorsement.
However, Mr Trimble has insisted that after the election, his party will not sit in government with Sinn Féin until the IRA fully decommissions its weapons.
The UUP leader today clashed with Sinn Féin's Mr Gerry Kelly over the IRA latest clarification.
After seeing the document Mr Trimble refused to go into secifics as to why he rejected its content. "That detail will, no doubt, become apparent and when it does you will see just how far short this is," he said.
But Mr Kelly accused Mr Trimble of trying to "frustrate" the peace process by insisting on "dictating terms".
"Too often in the past the British Government has allowed unionism to determine the pace of change. This is not acceptable," he said.
Additional reporting PA