Sinn Féin are to meet with the Taoiseach Mr Ahern next week in a bid to resolve the fallout from the Northern Bank robbery, it emerged today.
The party's justice spokesman, Mr Aengus O Snodaigh, said he was optimistic that the 'hurdle' in the peace process could be crossed.
"Hopefully, this will stir further progress. At the moment, the worry is that people will disengage until the Westminster elections in May and that talks will be put on hold," he said.
Mr Ahern, who is returning from a trade mission to China, has accused Sinn Féin of having prior knowledge of the Northern Bank robbery last month.
PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde blamed the IRA for the raid, which netted €32 million.
Mr Ahern has also said that the issue of IRA criminality had to be resolved before the Government re-entered peace negotiations with Sinn Féin.