The Taoiseach will meet the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, in London this week for talks aimed at resolving the Northern peace talks deadlock.
Mr Ahern confirmed yesterday that senior officials would accompany him to the talks in 10 Downing Street on Wednesday evening. Although he dampened down speculation that a deal was imminent, Mr Ahern said he was "determined if not optimistic" that "substantive progress" could be made.
"We have made progress [but] it is unlikely we will make a substantive breakthrough until we make progress on all fronts," he told RTE Radio. Wednesday's meeting would review progress up to now, and there would be no deal at this summit.
The Taoiseach said he had been working every day since January 11th on the talks, through informal contacts and telephone conference calls. The issues involved were very difficult and interlocking. On one question about policing, he had spent over 4-1/2 hours one day, without resolving the difficulties.
"To say we're close to a deal would be putting undue optimistic a spin on it. We have made substantive progress I think, but we have also run into some dilemmas and difficult issues."
The Taoiseach emphasised the need to strengthen the "politics of the situation" in order to ensure the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Ahern expressed regret at the departure of Mr Peter Mandelson as Northern secretary, who resigned over a passport scandal last week.
Mr Mandelson had made a "major contribution" to the Northern peace process. He was a "tough and hard, but fair" individual, although it was "obvious" that he was going to "move on", he said.
