Northern Ireland's politicians were tonight expected to be given a November 24th absolute deadline to decide on a deal to restore full devolution.
Following a round of meetings between the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin and some Northern Ireland parties today, it emerged Dublin and London will tell the parties next week that they are not prepared to persist with efforts to revive power sharing beyond November.
Mr Ahern met Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the cross-community Alliance Party in Dublin and is expected to travel to Armagh next Thursday along with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to reveal their plans.
However, concerns were expressed in Dublin today by SDLP leader Mark Durkan that the two Prime Ministers could produce a recipe for delay and stalemate.
The Foyle MP argued: "The details of the governments' proposals do not add up and we are worried that the shortfall is bigger than the distance between Ballykelly Military Base and the City of Derry Airport."
"We want all the institutions restored with full powers and the parties put into a live situation, not shadow boxing in a shadow Assembly.
"The governments' plan is for an Assembly without powers to meet for six weeks, followed by a recess and talks in yet another English stately home, followed by another six weeks of the Assembly, followed by another six weeks and another six weeks again.
"That is just a recipe for delay and stalemate. We want to see the governments stand firmer and go further."