UUP leader David Trimble said yesterday (Friday) that he hoped republicans would carry out acts of completion and that this would pave the way for Prime Minister Tony Blair to return to Northern Ireland next month.
Secretary of State Paul Murphy and Irish foreign affairs minister Brian Cowen are due to review the political situation in Dublin on Monday following the last Hillsborough talks.
They may consider setting a date for the publication of the plan by Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern when they revisit the north in a few weeks time.
One problem may be finding a suitable date for the visit because of the war in Iraq.
Yesterday UUP leader Mr Trimble was asked by the Irish News if he thought Mr Blair would still be committed to coming to Northern Ireland next month.
"That shows just how important the Northern Ireland issue was to Mr Blair, that he came to Hillsborough the other week and made what progress could be made then. We all wait to see whether that is going to be reflected in what paramilitaries do and, in particular, what the republican movement does," he said.
"The sub-text of Hillsborough was that republicans were being given an extra four weeks to do what we all know is necessary. We hope they do it and we hope that clears the way for the prime minister to come back in April."
Meanwhile, Mr Trimble called a special press conference yesterday to comment on the Iraq situation.
Mr Trimble said there had been a debate in society and that people had variety of views on this matter.
"Hostilities have now commenced and that changes the situation enormously. Our servicemen have gone into action... Our duty as a society now is to support the service personnel who are in action."
