The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has moved publicly to allay Sinn Fein fears over the strength of the proposed North-South body in the joint British-Irish propositions.
Following consultations between the party and Government representatives yesterday, in which Sinn Fein expressed deep unease at unionist claims that the body would be controlled by the British-Irish regional council, Mr Ahern insisted it would be a "stand alone" with executive powers.
The Sinn Fein delegation met the Irish negotiating team at Castle Buildings yesterday to discuss whether or not there had been any diminution of the Framework Document's enunciation of the critical North-South body. As "the one who negotiated this section", the Taoiseach stressed that the new North-South ministerial council would be "an executive implementation body". Insofar as he was "watching and protecting the interests of nationalists", he had followed the Framework Document in negotiating the text that was published on Monday, Mr Ahern said.
The North-South ministerial council would not be subordinate to any other body.
Appealing for an end to the killing in the North, he described the document as "balanced with potential for agreement if the parties work together". Compromise would be needed, however.
It is understood Mr Ahern's reassurances went a considerable way towards easing republican anxiety over the ultimate status of the cross-Border body, a key issue for Sinn Fein.
The Taoiseach refused to comment on a suggestion from Mr Billy Hutchinson, of the PUP, that the Combined Loyalist Military Command be re-established to exercise control over all the loyalist paramilitaries.
The latest developments in the peace process will be discussed at Cabinet today when Mr Ahern briefs his ministerial colleagues.
Earlier yesterday the two governments' blueprint for a political settlement in the North passed its first and crucial test yesterday when all the parties to the talks agreed it should form the basis for future negotiations.
Sinn Fein, in expressing the most serious misgivings about the British-Irish outline for a possible settlement, nonetheless pledged to engage fully in the negotiations when they begin on Monday.
The Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said his party was "totally and absolutely wedded to our commitment to find a solution though a process of negotiation . . . We will not be driven out of it (the talks)".
He expressed concern however that the paper was designed as a "sop" to loyalists and unionists.
The talks chairman, Mr George Mitchell, welcomed the initial agreement of all the parties to accept the British-Irish paper as the foundation for future talks, which are to due to conclude by May.
He said the Strand Two talks will move to London for three days of discussions later this month, and then, in February, transfer to Dublin for further negotiations, before returning to Stormont.
The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, welcomed the largely positive response to the initiative and said she believed the parties could now get down to some serious talking.
The SDLP talks leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, said the blueprint was designed to "give absolute victory to no one, and absolute defeat to no party". Mr Trimble said the paper was open to a range of interpretations. His party had its own interpretation, and it was only through detailed discussions in the three strands that the parties would arrive at a proper understanding of the way forward to an agreement.
The DUP deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson, said the British-Irish paper was a "united Ireland blueprint". "The unionist people will haunt the UUP when they see the proposals to which they have privately given their consent and now publicly welcome," he said.
The president of Republican Sinn Fein, Mr Ruairi O Bradaigh, said the document was based "entirely on the unionist veto whereby 18 per cent of the population of Ireland will dictate to the other 82 per cent".
Meanwhile, a poll conducted by the Belfast Telegraph showed that 96 per cent of Catholics and just over 50 per cent of Protestants would accept North-South co-operation.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, yesterday spent time at a vigil at the home in west Belfast of Mr Terry Enright who was murdered by the LVF at the weekend.