Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Mary Harney, has called on Sinn Féin to take "the final, irrevocable step into democratic life", saying patience was running out with the republican movement.
Speaking at a dinner to mark the opening of the PD conference in Galway, Ms Harney said the IRA has not "yet satisfied the expectations of Irish people for an end to the threat of violence".
She said the lingering threat posed by the IRA compromised the politics of Sinn Féin.
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The Tanaiste said people were now tired of the "myth" that Sinn Féin and the IRA were separate entities. "We know the provisional republican movement is one," she said.
Ms Harney said Sinn Féin had been given a lot of space to move into democratic politics. It had used that space to win electoral support North and South, and now it had to make a decision.
Sinn Féin had proven that electoral politics could find a home for it. "We've all seen it. Don't they believe itthemselves?" she said.
"We want the truth. We want clarity. We want results. Is the war over? Will guns and semtex be put beyond use? Will Sinn Féin engage in politics without a private army?"
Electoral politics in the North and the Republic could not "accommodate forever people not fully signed up to the rules" she warned.
Ms Harney also used her speech to quash rumours that she is preparing to step down as leader.She made clear it was her intention to stay on at the helm, at least until the next general election.
There had been speculation for a number of months that Ms Harney may quit her post to take up a position in Brussels or to pursue a career outside of politics.
While tonight's opening dinner was attended by more than 500 party members, a party spokeswoman said she expected 900 delegates to attend the two-day conference.
The conference will debate a number of motions including the rules governing the election of party leader.
In her speech, the PD leader paid tribute to the party's performance in last year's general election where it increased its representation in the Dáil to eight seats.
"Now we have to keep moving forward. We are ambitious for Ireland and we are ambitious for our party," she said.
The conference is an important opportunity for the party's new blood to impress prior to next year's European and local elections.
The party currently has 32 representatives sitting on city, council, urban district and town councils. A number of these are Oireachtas members who will have to stand down when new legislation ending the dual mandate comes into force in the summer of 2004.
