A series of proposals involving the chairman of the international decommissioning body, Gen John de Chastelain, are being considered by the two governments in an effort to pave the way for the establishment of institutions under the Belfast Agreement next month.
However, in spite of a range of ideas under consideration, Government sources last night admitted they were "nowhere near" reaching agreement on a formula for decommissioning.
The intensive round of talks is due to continue today when the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, has discussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, and later with the Taoiseach.
The days of hoping for a formula of words was long gone, and actual decommissioning of paramilitary weaponry was now required, sources said.
As part of his latest round of engagements with Northern leaders, the Taoiseach met the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, in Government Buildings yesterday.
After the 40-minute meeting, Mr Hume told journalists they had covered "definite proposals" in which Gen de Chastelain was "pivotal".
However, Mr Ahern earlier told the Dail that "no particular proposal is being put to Gen de Chastelain at this stage". The general was not prepared to do anything until he was satisfied it fulfilled the Belfast Agreement.
Meanwhile, the Government has strenuously denied it is turning a blind eye to evidence of a link between the IRA and the abortive armed raid in Dalkey, Co Dublin, last month.
Government sources last night said Garda intelligence suggested no link between the IRA and the robbery which went wrong after the getaway car broke down.
Questioned about recent media reports of IRA involvement in the raid, the Taoiseach told the Dail the Garda investigation had not been concluded. Claims had been made that the Garda was "somehow suppressing knowledge" that the IRA was involved and this was "totally unfounded".
The North's First Minister-designate, Mr David Trimble has requested Amnesty International and the New York-based Human Rights Watch to send teams to Northern Ireland to observe and report on paramilitary shootings and beatings carried out since the Belfast Agreement was signed on Good Friday, Deaglan de Breadun, Northern Editor, adds.
A statement from his office said: "There have been 40 beatings and shootings this year, all clear breaches of human rights. The First Minister believes that a new approach is needed to exert pressure on the paramilitaries to make them stop. He believes that public pressure has stopped the beatings in the past and that it can be used again to the same end."
In a letter to both organisations, Mr Trimble said it was a matter of great concern to him that, despite the efforts so many people had put into the agreement, "paramilitaries are still torturing and murdering people in their own communities".
Anti-Agreement Unionists hurled verbal abuse at the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, again last night as he arrived at a party branch meeting in Killinchy, Co Down.
A group of about 20 people with Union flags and posters shouted frenzied abuse at the UUP leader as he entered the meeting in a local hotel at 7.45 p.m. shielded by seven RUC officers.