Ahern to hold talks with northern parties on Thursday
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is to hold talks with the North's political parties on Thursday in advance of a power-sharing 'roadmap' being unveiled by the British and Irish governments next week.
Mr Ahern is expected to brief the Alliance Party, the SDLP and Sinn Féin on the joint proposals at Government Buildings in Dublin.
A government spokesperson confirmed tonight that separate bilateral meetings with the parties were taking place on Thursday afternoon.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP are vehemently opposed to any plans for an interim Assembly and want the 1998 Good Friday Agreement implemented in full.
The DUP has so far backed any temporary form of devolution in place ahead of the possible formation of an executive.
It is believed that Mr Ahern and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will announce their plans for an interim shadow Assembly in Armagh city on April 6.
Speculation has mounted that they are considering recalling the Assembly in May and giving the 108 MLAs a specific deadline to form a power-sharing government.
Mr Ahern and Mr Blair discussed their proposals on the fringes of the European Council summit in Brussels last Friday.
Both leaders have repeatedly signalled that progress on the restoration of the Assembly must be achieved in 2006.
The body was suspended in late 2002 following allegations that Sinn Féin was operating a spy ring within Stormont.
