Sinn Fein and the SDLP are to hold meetings today to help them decide whether to accept the two governments' proposals on implementing the Belfast Agreement.
Sinn Fein's ardchomhairle meets in Castlebellingham, Co Louth, this morning and the SDLP's Assembly party will meet at the same time in Stormont.
The SDLP will meet the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, later. The party chairman, Mr Alex Attwood, said the SDLP wants to see details of the implementation plan for police reform before making a final response.
A leading Sinn Fein member said loyalist violence was hampering any IRA movement on decommissioning. Mr Gerry Kelly MLA accused the Ulster Defence Association of orchestrating violence against nationalists. He said "no one is saying to me `you need to go and talk to the IRA and tell them to hand up their weapons', because the UDA are deliberately making it harder to deal with this issue of arms."
Mr Kelly said he was not accusing unionist politicians such as Mr Trimble of being in league with the paramilitaries but said their actions were having the same effect.
Mr Alex Maskey said Sinn Fein would discuss the governments' proposals "in detail and in a constructive fashion" and would "give advice to whoever wants to hear that advice".
Mr Kelly said the ardcomhairle would pay particular attention to the issue of policing and the commitment to pass additional legislation on the matter was welcomed.
The joint proposals provide for an independent judge to examine contentious killings, such as those of solicitor Ms Rosemary Nelson and the loyalist leader Billy Wright. Mr Kelly said the party agreed with the families of those killed that there should be independent judicial inquiries into the deaths and a mechanism to deal with human rights abusers in the police.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Minister for Health reacted angrily to a statement by Mr Trimble that her party's ministers were "in government by day and engaged in other activities by night". Ms Bairbre de Brun called on the former First Minister to withdraw the comment.
Mr Trimble had said "we are not legitimising terrorism. It's not all right to be in government by day and out engaged in other activities by night."
Ms de Brun described his comments as disgraceful. "Rather than continue to attempt to demonise, marginalise or justify the exclusion of Sinn Fein ministers from office, Mr Trimble would be better served in paying more attention to the undertakings he gave in signing up to the Good Friday agreement - to work towards the achievement of reconciliation, tolerance and mutual trust," she said.
UUP officials were unavailable for comment.