Mr Seamus Mallon expects the Irish and British governments to play an increasingly pro-active role in the coming weeks leading to crucial decisions on decommissioning and the creation of the Northern Ireland executive.
It is understood there were no new proposals for resolving the political impasse yesterday during the Deputy First Minister's 45-minute meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, at 10 Downing Street.
The meeting was seen in other circles as evidence of Mr Blair's "re-engagement" with the issue ahead of next Monday's important Assembly vote on departmental and cross-Border structures, and the March 10th target date for the transfer of powers to Stormont.