The Minister for Justice has said it is "within the grasp" of the Republican leadership to disband the Provisional IRA if they want to make that choice.
Mr McDowell said it was clear the IRA remained a well-organised, disciplined paramilitary body after the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) said in its third report that the organisation showed no sign of winding down operations.
While it was open to the republican leadership to disband the organisation in the context of the current talks, the question was being approached on the basis that nothing was agreed until everything was agreed.
"I believe it is certainly available if people want to make that choice, but it's a choice for others to make," he said. "If they haven't prepared the ground then we're all proceeding on a false basis. I believe it is within the grasp of everybody who is engaging in paramilitarism at the moment to end that situation."
Mr McDowell indicated he was open to the possibility of Sinn Féin entering Government in the Republic if the IRA was disbanded, although he believed the party would have difficulty finding partners due to its "marxist" economic policy. Such a stance differed to that of his party colleague, Senator John Minihan, who dismissed suggestions that Fianna Fáil should consider a coalition with Sinn Féin if the IRA wound down. He said: " I have no problem with the concept of Sinn Féin seeking to participate fully in Irish politics, albeit as a party with a marxist economic philosophy, with people who are willing to coalesce with them if there are such people."
But he was opposed to Sinn Féin pretending to be a party capable of entering Government while it remained "linked to an armed group which claims to be the legitimate Government of the Irish State".
Mr McDowell said the IRA had stood down Dublin-based activists and subjected them to "punishment" beatings in the North after accusations that they were profiting from involvement in criminality. Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte rubbished Sinn Féin's rejection of the report. "Sinn Féin's attempts to dismiss and undermine the conclusions of an independent body established by two sovereign governments are utterly disingenuous."
