Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister in waiting Martin McGuinness will meet Prime Minister Tony Blair today for talks in Downing Street today.
The meeting, which will also be attended by and Wexford councillor John Dwyer, will take place as preparations continue for the resumption of power sharing at Stormont on May 8th.
Mr McGuinness will jointly head the new administration of unionists and nationalists with Democratic Unionist leader, the Rev Ian Paisley as First Minister.
It emerged last night that Mr Paisley intends to serve his full term as First Minister, scotching speculation that he would only be in the post for a year.
Sinn Féin is expected to raise with Mr Blair demands for more funds from the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown to boost the Northern Ireland Executive's budget as devolved ministers face demands to tackle under funded projects.
The party is also expected to discuss recent loyalist threats to nationalist and republicans and concerns about the Independent Monitoring Commission's role during devolution.
In a documentary to be broadcast on May 8th Dr Paisley told UTV interviewer Jim Dougal that he has unprecedented support across the communities and he therefore intends to see out the whole term as First Minister.
"I am going to do the full term," said Dr Paisley. "I have no intention of retiring because I believe that Ulster needs me, and I believe they need the leadership that I can give them.
"There is no other politician that has the backing of the people as I have," he added.
Sinn Féin also announced yesterday that South Antrim MLA Mitchel McLaughlin would chair the Assembly's finance committee which will scrutinise the work of finance and personnel minister Peter Robinson.
West Belfast MLA Sue Ramsey will chair the employment and learning committee, examining the work of Ulster Unionist minister Sir Reg Empey.
North Belfast MLA Caral Ní Chuilin will be the party's new Assembly chief whip.