The Irish and British governments announced today they would implement plans drawn up last month to revive power sharing in Northern Ireland.
Following the responses of parties in Stormont to the proposals, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern issued a statement.
"When we concluded our talks at St Andrews in October we asked the parties to reflect on the agreement, to consult with their membership on the proposed way forward and to confirm their acceptance by November 10th," the statement said.
"These consultations are now complete, and the governments have been in contact with the parties. We are satisfied from these contacts that the St Andrews Agreement, implemented in good faith, represents the basis for a political settlement.
"That settlement must rest on the two foundations of support for power-sharing, and the political institutions and support for policing and the rule of law. Securing these objectives remains the priority of the two governments and of everyone in Northern Ireland," the statement added.
"We will now proceed to ensure full implementation of the St Andrews Agreement and the British government will bring forward legislation to give effect to the Agreement.
Last month, Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair produced their best guess plan for reviving power sharing between unionists and nationalists at Stormont.
Initial reaction to their plan from the Rev Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was positive. But the DUP insisted that if it was to form a power-sharing government involving Sinn Féin, that party would have to change its policing policy in Northern Ireland and publicly endorse the PSNI.
Sinn Féin is the only one of the four parties who would qualify for cabinet posts in a devolved government that does not publicly support the PSNI. In the weeks following the St Andrews talks, it has emerged that Mr Adams is not yet in a position to convene a special party conference to discuss the issue.
In their resolution last night, DUP members insisted that unless there was movement by Sinn Féin, they could not commit themselves to sharing power with republicans.
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness tonight insisted the two governments must hold the DUP to the deadlines in the agreement. And he also countered DUP claims his party had retreated from its St Andrews talks position on policing, arguing members of Mr Paisley's party were instead making unreasonable demands.
The first major deadline facing the Northern Ireland parties is in a fortnight's time when the Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness are due to be appointed shadow first and deputy first ministers at Stormont.
Government officials on both sides have become increasingly concerned that the impasse over Sinn Féin's move on policing could result in that deadline slipping. In a speech to Irish American supporters in New York last night, Mr Adams insisted there were still some issues around policing to be resolved before he could recommend a special party conference.
"I have made clear that when the British government and the DUP conclude with us in a satisfactory way on the outstanding policing issues, I will go to the Sinn Féin ardchomhairle and seek a special ardfheis," he said.
Progressive Unionist leader David Ervine today predicted Northern Ireland's politicians would miss most of the deadlines set by the two governments in the run-up to the March 26th deadline for a power-sharing government next year.
However he believed there would be a devolved government by March 26th. "Irrespective of what happens on November 24th, we all know what needs done," he said. "I fancy we will upset every deadline between now and March 26th but we will make the March 26th deadline."