Implementing the structures in the Belfast Agreement will top the agenda for discussions in Dublin tonight between the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, and the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam.
The informal meeting will also cover the continuing Drumcree controversy as well as President Clinton's forthcoming visit.
It is understood, however, that the two politicians, each accompanied by one official, will concentrate on the next meeting of the Assembly, the appointment of an Executive, the establishment of the proposed North/South Council and the British/Irish Council.
Government sources last night said they wanted to see the "shadow" Executive chosen at an early stage to pave the way for the North/South Ministerial Council, which must agree six areas of responsibility by the end of October.
Against a background of unionist warnings over Sinn Fein's involvement in the Executive following the killing of Mr Andrew Kearney in New Lodge, Belfast, sources said it was unlikely the murder would be covered in tonight's deliberations. Government sources insisted "we must await the conclusion of police inquiries" before commenting on who was responsible.
But the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, yesterday asked if it was really viable to envisage Sinn Fein ministers sitting at a cabinet table if their party continued to have "an organic political link with an organisation that is still at that time defying the laws of the land.
"The alleged involvement of the IRA in the murder of Andy Kearney in Belfast again throws into the spotlight the continuing links between Sinn Fein and the IRA," he said.
It was time for plain speaking on the subject. Every organisation was entitled to time to adjust, to come to terms with its past and to re-educate its followers, Mr Bruton said. The extended peace process had, in part, been about providing that sort of time for adjustment.
"Sinn Fein, as a political party, should now, at last, make up its mind to publicly tell the IRA that the political space for any kind of violence ended on the day the Good Friday Agreement was sanctioned by all the Irish people. If they cannot do that now, what does Sinn Fein really expect other political parties to think?", Mr Bruton said.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said Mr Kearney's murder was "an appalling murder and an appalling death". Speaking on RTE Radio's This Week, it had been clearly condemned by a senior representative of Sinn Fein, Mr Gerry Kelly, he added. "He [Mr Kelly] said it was totally reprehensible and I think that's a very clear condemnation. I believe that the paramilitary organisations are committed to a total cessation of violence and that has been demonstrated by the unprecedented peace that we have had on our streets."
He added: "I think it would be helpful if all the paramilitaries were to make clear that the total cessation is a total commitment to the ending of all violence, particularly to the whole punishment area."