The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, British Prime Minister Tony Blair will host a new round of talks aimed at restoring Northern Ireland's political institutions in September, it was confirmed last night.
The Northern Ireland Office said preliminary discussions would take place at Parliament Buildings in Stormont at the beginning of the month with full talks taking place from September 16th to 18th.
The venue has yet to be decided but there is speculation they will take place in England.
Details outlining the arrangements for the resumption of talks were sent yesterday to political parties in a joint letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen and Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy.
It has also been confirmed that Mr Ahern and Mr Blair will meet in the week before the talks.
The announcement was welcomed by the SDLP's Mr Sean Farren.
"Even though we have contributed nothing to the problem, we will do everything we can to try to achieve a breakthrough. Other parties must do likewise," Mr Farren said expressing concern that the governments had not scheduled meetings on the issues of equality, human rights or reform of the justice system.
"They are not just central concerns of the SDLP, they are central to the whole Good Friday Agreement. I have already met with the NIO today and raised with them our party's concern.
We expect the governments to move quickly to schedule a meeting on these important issues," he said.
PA