The government is to consult Northern Ireland's political parties within the next 10 days about the review of the peace process following the collapse of devolution.

Secretary of State John Reid met Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen at an Anglo-Irish Inter-governmental Conference at Hillsborough Castle, County Down on Tuesday.

The talks included ways of bridging the trust gap between unionists and republicans.

Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive was suspended for the fourth time last week following allegations of IRA intelligence gathering in the Northern Ireland Office.

I do not believe this is a time for despondency, or discouragement, or despair John Reid Secretary of state

Dr Reid said both governments' relationship had been "a bedrock" in recent weeks.

He said ministers had discussed security and the "practicalities of next few months".

Dr Reid said despite his sense of regret over the suspension of the institutions, the government would carry forward the implementation of the Agreement.

"The efforts which have been made over the last few hours are as determined as the efforts the two governments made over the past few years to make a success of this process," he said.

"I do not believe this is a time for despondency, or discouragement, or despair.

"It is a time to face up to the political challenge we face, the way we have done in the past."

'Unrealisable demands'

Mr Cowen said the talks had been very productive.

"The two governments are determined to press ahead with all aspects of the Agreement that are within their respective competence.

"We are resolved to work closely together to create the political conditions to facilitate the restoration of the devolved institutions at the earliest possible date."

Both ministers are currently engaged in a further round of talks on how to find a way forward following the collapse of the Stormont institutions.

Martin McGuinness: To meet with US special envoy Richard Haass in Washington

The talks follow calls by Prime Minister Tony Blair last week for the IRA to disband.

However, a statement issued by the republican movement rejected Mr Blair's appeal as "unrealisable demands".

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness is due to meet the US special envoy Richard Haass on Tuesday.

The Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has warned hard-line unionists that re-negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement was not on the agenda.

Mr Ahern urged the political parties to intensify efforts to restore the suspended devolution.

Round table talks

"We will not negotiate backwards and unpick an agreement that is the product of long and difficult negotiations that has been solemnly endorsed by the people of Ireland, north and south."

"The Good Friday Agreement stands and we have to find a model of trust and confidence. The alternative doesn't bear thinking about."

Mr Ahern, who was speaking at his Fianna Fail party's annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration in County Kildare at the weekend, told unionists that peace could not be achieved by deciding to pull out of power-sharing.

Meanwhile, the Sinn Fein assembly group executive has met at Stormont to discuss the implications of the suspension of the institutions.

Following the meeting, Sinn Fein assembly group leader Conor Murphy said the full implementation of an equality agenda still represented a major challenge.

Dr Reid is set to organise a series of meetings with political parties in Belfast.

However, round table discussions involving all the parties appear unlikely after Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said he saw no point in them.

Addressing his party's annual conference in Londonderry on Saturday, the former Northern Ireland first minister said such talks would have no impact on whether the IRA would disband, a key requirement for his party's return to the power-sharing administration with Sinn Fein.