The IRA must unambiguously abandon paramilitary violence and criminality if its expected declaration this week is to be accepted by the Irish and British governments, the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has said.
"The real issue is whether the actions match the words. We are no longer in the business of fudge or equivocation, there has to be clear unambiguous language used and the people of these islands are entitled to clear and unambiguous language," the Minister said.
Speculation is rife that the IRA will issue a statement today or tomorrow, announcing that it is to destroy its weaponry, end paramilitary activity and commit entirely and permanently to peaceful means.
Though no confirmation exists, it is believed that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British prime minister Tony Blair are aware of the final shape of the IRA statement, though it is not clear if Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has actually shown them a text.
The meetings between Mr Adams and the Taoiseach, and one earlier in the day between Mr Adams and Martin McGuinness with Mr Blair, are the last such formal contacts expected before the IRA publication.
Speaking in Dublin, Mr McDowell, who has repeatedly criticised the IRA in recent months, said there would be "no breakthrough unless all the elements" are there.
"It is actions and not words that count. Firstly there has to be an end to all violence, there has to be an end to all crime, there has to be an end to all paramilitarism and there has to be a complete and total ending of the situation whereby the IRA has access to arms, and that means decommissioning of a verifiable kind, and in that context once that happens then the IRA has to address its own future.
"It can't continue in existence as an unlawful organisation and that situation has to be addressed as well."
Meanwhile, the Minister said that Mr Adams, Mr McGuinness and Kerry North TD Martin Ferris recently stepped down from the IRA's army council.
"I indicated some time ago that there was senior members of Sinn Féin elected to both Dáil Éireann and Westminster who were members of the army council of the IRA and my understanding is that they have in recent weeks resigned and been replaced by other people on the army council of the IRA.
"What that signifies is that they were on it despite their repeated denials, and secondly it signifies that they are beginning to wake up to the fact that their presence on it was going to be of consistent public comment by people such as myself until it ended, and thirdly it shows the link between Sinn Féin and the IRA is still there and it's up to the entire Provisional movement now to recast itself in an entirely peaceful mode and to end a link to a paramilitary organisation.
"Until that is done there is no way forward for the political process in Northern Ireland because the Sinn Féin party is not eligible to participate in the executive power in Northern Ireland or indeed in government in the South until such time as it completely severs its links with any unlawful organisation, criminality, paramilitarism and violence," he said.
IRA decommissioning and disbandment would not protect members involved in crime since the Good Friday agreement in 1998, he warned: "There is no question of there being an amnesty in respect of any activity post-1998. The pursuit of the people who perpetrated the Northern Bank robbery will continue unabated and it's my duty as Minister for Justice under the Offences against the State Act to get in all the assets that the IRA has. These are all proceeds of crime and nothing that can happen on a political front can change that duty and I intend to pursue that duty," he said.
John de Chastelain, the head of the Independent International Decommissioning Body, will lead the work to verify that the IRA honours promises to destroy its arsenal, he said.
"I also want to emphasise there is no position whatsoever between being armed and being unarmed for the IRA."
