The Taoiseach and British Prime Minister should know by their meeting on Friday if a breakthrough in the stalled peace process can be achieved at Leeds Castle in Kent next week.
Both Mr Ahern and Mr Tony Blair, who meet in the prime minister's Sedgefield constituency, should have "a clear sense of what has been achieved, the narrowing agenda for talks and the core issues that remain," a British source suggested.
An Irish source told The Irish Times that all parties were "working constructively" in an "attentive and engaged" fashion. The two leaders would have a "full perspective" by Friday.
Both governments reported progress yesterday as a second week of intensive contacts with the political parties began.
Bilateral meetings hosted by the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, restart today with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, returning to Stormont for talks with the parties on Thursday.
Sources from neither government dwelt on the discovery of a bugging device yesterday at the home of a volunteer who works at Mr Gerry Adams's constituency office. The discovery was made by builders in the attic at the woman's home in Andersonstown.
The device - a microphone, transmitter, cabling and battery pack - was put on display at Sinn Féin's office on the Falls Road. Mr Michael Ferguson, an Assembly member for the constituency, blamed British intelligence. He asked if Mr Blair had authorised the eavesdropping and said it was a disgrace that such activity continued after 10 years of IRA ceasefire.
"It is a reminder that the agencies and individuals who have operated here with impunity for decades and who organised the collusion policy are still here and still active," he said. The Northern Ireland Office did not comment.
The incident, like the concern prompted by the Rev Ian Paisley's comments last week, has affected but not derailed preparations for Leeds Castle.
However republicans lost no time in accusing British intelligence of dirty tricks in Belfast as Mr Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness were in London for talks with British officials including Mr Jonathan Powell.