The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, yesterday insisted it could be a waste of time for the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to join the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, at Hillsborough next week.
Unless the IRA was prepared to demonstrate that it was going out of business he said there would be no point in the leaders presenting their blueprint aimed at restoring devolution.
However, in Dublin the Government pressed ahead with its preparations. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, and the SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, discussed the joint government plan to end the political impasse in the North in advance of an expected round table meeting on April 10th.
Mr Cowen and Mr Durkan met in Dublin to review the plan which is expected to be published after the Taoiseach and Mr Blair meet the pro-agreement parties at Hillsborough next week. Sinn Féin figures are also meeting British officials in London this week to discuss the plan.
Mr Trimble told UTV: "I think what the prime minister has to do is to consider very carefully whether it is worth coming again, because much as we would like to see him here, and much as we appreciate his continuing interest in Northern Ireland, we don't want him to come unless there is something positive to come from it," added Mr Trimble.
"And in that respect we look of course to the republican movement which has to finally accept its obligations with regard to disarmament, and to the winding up of the private army.
"I hope that is going to happen, but I would say to the prime minister, unless you are sure it is going to happen you might have more important things to do." Suzanne Breen adds: An SDLP Assembly member for Derry has resigned from the party. Ms Annie Courtney has not decided if she will contest the May elections as an independent. Her resignation follows her deselection as an Assembly candidate in February.
She criticised the method the party has used to choose its candidates, and described the selection meeting as a "sham and a farce". The criticism was rejected by Mr Durkan. Ms Courtney was replaced on the election team by SDLP councillor Mr Gerard Diver. She told her local branch she had no option but to resign.