The Government does not expect the IRA statement, which could herald the complete decommissioning of its arsenal, to be released until early August, as debate continues within the organisation.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams yesterday discussed developments surrounding the long-awaited statement during a one-hour meeting yesterday at Mr Ahern's constituency office.
However, the meeting was dominated by the recent violence in Ardoyne, Belfast, where gangs of youths and dissident republicans engaged in street clashes with the police, injuring several.
The IRA statement is still being debated within the organisation at meetings around the country between Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness and IRA members.
Mr McGuinness made clear to Mr Ahern, when they met briefly during the Ulster football final in Croke Park, that his work would take another couple of weeks to complete, reliable sources have told The Irish Times.
Questioned yesterday about his meeting with the Taoiseach, attended also by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, Mr Adams said: "Let's give time to these people to sort out this matter. I have stayed away from speculating about what time it will take. Let's all of us manage the situation as best we can."
Referring to Ardoyne, however, he was noticeably keen to claim credit for Sinn Féin, though he accused the PSNI of "very clever news management" during the Twelfth. "It was a very dangerous situation there, in Dunloy, in Derry . . . there has been a big focus on how the whole thing broke down, but relatively speaking we got off very lightly.
"We got off very lightly despite the fact that the Orangemen would not talk. And we got off very lightly despite the fact that the Parades Commission made ridiculous decisions," Mr Adams told journalists at the party's Dublin headquarters.
"No one was killed in Ardoyne even though there was obvious potential for a terrible disaster. I consider that to be a big plus. The vast majority of people supported the initiatives we took, in terms of peaceful demonstrations.
"It isn't tenable that, with each contentious parade, society is brought to the brink. This problem cannot be parked until next year. It needs to be dealt with now. It's time for those within the loyal orders, and those unionist politicians who are among their leading members, to engage in a meaningful process of dialogue.
"This week rejectionist unionist politicians, who are also leading Orangemen, steered the Orange Order on a course which could have resulted in the political atmosphere being poisoned at a time when the IRA is engaged in its internal consultation and at a time when traditionally tensions run high.
"Given the decision of the Parades Commission, the situation in Ardoyne had the potential to be a disaster. It had the potential to lead to the loss of lives. That is why Sinn Féin put so much effort into trying to ensure that the situation remained calm," Mr Adams said.
