Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, has claimed that proposals to appoint an independent auditor to monitor the state of the paramilitary ceasefires would not benefit the peace process.
He was speaking yesterday after meeting the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, at talks aimed at resolving the current political problems.
It was the first of a series of top-level meetings which will take place this week. SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, is meeting the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. Mr David Trimble is expected to hold talks with Dr Reid. Mr Adams is understood to be arranging meetings with Mr Ahern and Mr Trimble.
President Bush's special adviser on Northern Ireland, Mr Richard Haass, is also planning talks with the North's political leaders on Thursday.
The idea of an independent auditor to monitor the ceasefires has been proposed as a way of objectively deciding when breaches occur.
Both the Provisional IRA and loyalist paramilitaries have been constantly accused of involvement in violence over the summer. Mr Adams said his party was concerned the British government would "pander" to anti-agreement unionists.
He said it should remember the peace process wasn't "there just to help David Trimble". Mr Adams said: "This isn't a save David process. This is a process about bringing about change."
Dr Reid said the British government was examining ways to keep the public fully informed about which paramilitary organisations were breaching their ceasefires.
"The political and legal obligation of making a decision on ceasefires rests with me and will stay with me," he said.
"My chief adviser on that is the chief constable. There is a widespread feeling that we need to put more systematic information to the public in Northern Ireland about who is committing this violence, in what quantities, and to let people really know the details of what is going on.
"In principle, it is something supported by many, many people in Northern Ireland, including the leaders of many parties, and I am consulting at present how that might be done."
Ulster Unionist MP, Mr David Burnside, accused Dr Reid of making a "pathetic, weak statement" on the ceasefires. "The public knows all to well where the breaches are, as does the government," he said.
DUP Assembly member, Mr Ian Paisley jnr, predicted there would be just "another fudge".
He said Dr Reid needed to be "more honest" with people.
"The ceasefires broke down ages ago. Everyone knows that - the chief constable, the assistant chief constable, even the secretary of state."