Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will next week meet Ian Paisley, who yesterday reached an agreement with Sinn Féin to have a devolved government in place in Stormont by May 8th.
It will be the first meeting between Mr Ahern and the Democratic Unionist Party leader since yesterday's news conference with Mr Paisley and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams boosted hopes of a long-term democratic solution for the North.
Mr Ahern today briefed the Dáil on the latest developments during leader's questions. His spokeswoman added later: "Mr Ahern is due to meet Dr Paisley during the middle or the end of next week."
Earlier, Opposition leaders paid tribute to Mr Ahern's in the process over the past decade.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny praised him for his patience and said: "I hope, come May, it will come to a conclusion and herald a new dawn for the future of communities in Northern Ireland."
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte added that he "would like to be associated with the generous but well-merited remarks by Mr Kenny about the Taoiseach for his patient involvement in bringing about the situation from which hopefully there is no turning back."
Mr Ahern thanked thanked the weelwishers and singled out hard working aides for special praise.
Aside from the back-slapping there was also a bit of light hearted banter shared between Mr Rabbitte and the Taoiseach, with the latter being accused of promising too much as the election looms.
Mr Rabbitte said Fianna Fail threw around election promises like confetti at its weekend Árdfheis and claimed a woman likened him to Pinocchio.
He joked that Social Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan was pale with shock when he called a press conference to decry reckless Opposition promises that could bankrupt the country.
"I saw him on the TV on Saturday night before my very eyes applauding like Mr Bean on speed.
"I want to ask you about the impact on Seamus Brennan about the Niagara of promises that you unleashed on your unsuspecting Cabinet."
Mr Rabbitte claimed Mr Ahern made 53 different commitments, costing €300 million per minute of his address. "Aren't we fortunate that you only had half an hour?"
Mr Ahern said that the Government was always committed to tax reform if the economy remains strong.
Mr Ahern said: "It took you 20 years but I always knew that you were a nice person and you would come around to my way of thinking sometime in my lifetime."