The Irish and British governments are to hold a series of roundtable talks between pro-Agreement parties in Belfast next week, it emerged this afternoon.
The talks are aimed at breaking the impasse in the peace process brought about by the suspension of Executive and Assembly last month.
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A spokeswoman for the Government told ireland.com the talks would be chaired by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen and the new Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy.
Mr Murphy is understood to have issued invitations today to all parties in the Stormont Assembly to a round table meeting at Parliament Buildings on Thursday.
Earlier, the British government signalled its intention to press ahead with police reforms in Northern Ireland.
In the speech delivered to the House of Lords, the queen said: "Legislation will be brought forward on policing in Northern Ireland."
The Police (Northern Ireland) Bill now set to be introduced follows on the Police Act 2000 and implements more of the Patten recommendations.
The new legislation has emerged from British government pledges made in the revised Patten Implementation Plan published in August last year.
She also added: "In Northern Ireland, my government will continue to work closely with the political parties and the Irish Government to secure the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement". she added.
SDLP policing spokesman Mr Alex Attwood claimed his party had been vindicated because the British government now planned to strengthen Police Service of Northern Ireland watchdogs.
He declared: "We have been proved right and Sinn Féin have got it wrong."
But the republican party's Mr Gerry Kelly insisted Britain had still to convince the public the Patten blueprint for reforming the force would be honoured.
He declared: "We have been proved right and Sinn Féin have got it wrong."
But the republican party's Mr Gerry Kelly insisted Britain had still to convince the public the Patten blueprint for reforming the force would be honoured.
Meanwhile, Stormont sources said the round table talks could be used to tee up possible talks in the New Year involving the two governments.
"The Prime Ministers will only be involved if they know a deal is on," said a source.
"The view is that that is more likely in the New Year. The half-day of multi-party talks this month will lay a lot of the groundwork."
The Executive and Assembly were suspended last month by the former Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid in a bid to save the Belfast Agreement and prevent a unionist walkout from the power sharing executive.
The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists pulled its two ministers out of the executive and Mr Trimble's Ulster Unionists also threatened to quit over a succession of allegations against republicans over ongoing IRA activity.
The suspension of devolution last month led to the return of direct rule from Westminster with four junior Northern Ireland Office ministers assuming responsibility for the 11 Stormont government departments.
Additional reporting by PA
