Mr David Trimble seems certain to put his resignation threat on ice following last night's statement by Mr Peter Mandelson effectively giving the IRA one week to clarify if and when it will decommission its arms.
In a statement which went considerably further than the Irish Government had wanted, the Northern Ireland Secretary said he would publish a Bill Friday, February 4, which would enable him to suspend the institutions of the Belfast Agreement and reinstate direct rule by the end of next week.
As the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, headed for a late-night summit in Cornwall, Mr Mandelson said that "even at this very late stage" it was right that negotiations should continue, and he held out hope that Gen de Chastelain might yet be able to produce a further report providing "clarity" and "certainty" of republican intent.
Arriving in St Austell, Cornwall, to meet Mr Blair, Mr Ahern said he was there "to report some progress".
In response to a question he said he hoped the suspension of the institutions was not inevitable, saying: "We have moved some way forward."
In the Commons, Mr Mandelson said the de Chastelain commission would need "further evidence" to substantiate its conclusion of last July that decommissioning would happen. "In particular, they need definite information about when decommissioning will actually start."
The Secretary of State told MPs he would introduce the Bill giving him powers to suspend the Executive and other institutions early next week.
It is understood he intends to introduce the legislation in the Commons on Tuesday, and that it should have completed its progress through the Lords by Wednesday night. It would almost certainly be on the statute book by Thursday night, with an Order bringing it into effect the following day.
The indications last night were that the commencement of the parliamentary process pointing to suspension would be enough to stay Mr Trimble's post-dated letter of resignation, due to become operative from midnight.
The Ulster Unionist leader said last night that the matter was not in his hands, and that he would be meeting his party's president, Sir Josias Cunningham, and other senior officers in Belfast at 10 a.m. today. However, it is understood that Mr Trimble has the backing of his deputy leader, Mr John Taylor, for delay and the expectation is that Sir Josias would not force the issue at this point.
Mr Trimble also indicated that he would be prepared to meet the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, provided his request was for "a serious discussion" and was "not merely a publicity stunt".
However, last night's exchanges in the Commons revealed the continuing chasm between Mr Trimble's demand for actual IRA product, and the British government's insistence that the IRA indicate its intention to comply with the May 22nd deadline set out in the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Trimble told Mr Mandelson: "Now that the basis on which we proceeded to devolution has been falsified, we now have no alternative and cannot continue in an administration with those who have disappointed the hopes that were created."
He asked Mr Mandelson for an assurance that "unless there is clear, significant and verifiable decommissioning within the next few days," he would proceed to suspension. The Northern Ireland Secretary did not respond directly to this, when telling Mr Trimble that his "strength and determination" would be needed again to keep the process moving.
Mr Mandelson confirmed that "there has not been an adequate engagement with Gen de Chastelain" by any paramilitary group, which he described as "a betrayal of the people of Northern Ireland".
However, he denied a suggestion from Mr Taylor that the de Chastelain report had concluded that the sheer magnitude of the IRA's arsenal would mean decommissioning would have to begin immediately if the May deadline was to be met.
The former Prime Minister, Mr John Major, said "many hopes have been fractured by the failure to decommission". There had always been "a conundrum" at the heart of the peace process, as to whether the republican leadership wanted to decommission but could not deliver, or alternatively had never intended to disarm.
He asked Mr Mandelson if Sinn Féin had ever put a decommissioning plan to the IRA's army council, and if they had not done previously, if they should be asked to do so now.
Mr Mandelson did not reply directly to Mr Major on this point, nor to Mr John Maples when asked whether the Irish Government fully supported the statement he was making to the House.
However, Mr Mandelson told him: "I don't think there is any doubt about the position of the Irish Government on this issue."
The Deputy First Minister, Mr Séamus Mallon, said Mr Mandelson was aware of his view that "suspension at this time, and in this context, would be unwise".
The priority, he suggested, was to allow Gen de Chastelain to obtain the answers to two questions: "Will you decommission. And, if yes, when will you decommission."
However there is little chance the IRA will start to give up its guns by next week's deadline for the suspension of the Northern Ireland government, Sinn Féin chairman Mitchel McLaughlin has warned.