The peace process is shifting back into 'chicken and egg' politics as to whether the IRA will first come up with an initiative or if the British government will set a date for assembly elections.
There have already been behind-the-scenes discussions and these will be stepped up to determine if an autumn election is realisable.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and chief negotiator Martin McGuinness held private talks last week with Prime Minister Tony Blair to assess the situation after a relatively quiet summer in the north.
This weekend Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will hold bilateral talks to review what has been happening since their last summit earlier this year which culminated in a failure to secure acts of completion, but with the determination to press ahead with other areas of the joint declaration.
Mr Ahern and Mr Blair will examine the possibility of getting genuine movement on acts of completion which would increase the chances of having an early election.
The idea may be to try and move the process back on track by refocusing on where everyone was at in April with the IRA offer which was pushed off the table and whether it can come back into play.
The key will be paragraph 13 of the joint declaration. This stated that paramilitarism and sectarian violence must be brought to an end. The explor-atory talks will also assess the chances of demilitarisation.
The question may also arise again as to whether Sinn Féin is willing to sign up to the new policing arrangements – an issue that seems to have disappeared off the political agenda.
Meanwhile, Mr McGuinness said yesterday (Wednesday) that elections were a matter of political principle and that without them there was no prospect of progress.
"It must also be recognised that even with an election date that there is no guarantee of future initiatives from republicans," he said.
"We have to remember the last time Mr Blair slapped republicans and the Taoiseach in the face by cancelling elections. This has created a deep well of anger and frustration. Moving things forward is not just the responsibility of republicans. There is a collective responsibility on all of us."
Former UUP assembly mem Michael McGimpsey said that Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness were in no position to dictate the terms for elections.
"Elections will serve no purpose for Sinn Féin until they deliver acts of completion," he said.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, fresh from his UU Council victory, is expected to have talks with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, early next week.
Internal unionist friction continues over the contents of the joint declaration and the UUP leadership may sit back to see what the contacts between republicans and the British government come up with over the issue of acts of completion.
DUP leader Ian Paisley has said that the new legislation tabled in relation to the International Monitoring Body does nothing to secure the total disbandment of the IRA.
And UKUP leader Robert McCartney warned: "The formula is well tried. Blair concocts a deal for which he first seeks IRA approval.
"He then announces it either as a declaration or a piece of legislation. The IRA then offer public compliance in the form of a decommissioning charade and an acceptable form of words and, finally, the compliant Trimble then declares his acceptance."
