The Drumcree crisis is expected to top the agenda when the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, meets the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, in London tonight.
The meeting had been planned to review developments since the signing of the Belfast Agreement and to discuss the next steps in implementing the accord, but the emergency arising from Drumcree is now expected to take priority at the talks in the Irish Embassy.
Sources last night said "the main focus" would remain on preparations to implement the agreed institutions but Drumcree and other parades would inevitably be discussed.
The meeting was "not prompted by the current problems" and was not designed to find a solution to the impasse over the Garvaghy Road, one source said.
Meanwhile, amid continuing Government gloom over the chances of a breakthrough, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, yesterday briefed his Cabinet colleagues on the unfolding situation.
Contact continued yesterday between officials in Dublin and London and parties in the North.
Attempts were again made to convince Orange Order leaders that dialogue must be established in some form between the Order and the local residents.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, is expected to tell Orange Order representatives in his meeting with them today that under no circumstances can they march down the Garvaghy Road without the consent of the residents.
Sources in Dublin said the "only credible option" involved dialogue between the Orangemen and the local people.
However, with the July 12th weekend looming, fears were increasing that Orangmen would attempt to converge in large numbers in Drumcree, an extremely grim prospect, one source added.