British Conservative Party leader David Cameron has stated that while his wish would be for the IRA to disband he was prepared to accept the notion of the IRA as an "old boys' network".
Mr Cameron, on a visit to Belfast yesterday, said the twin issues of Sinn Féin support for policing and unionist support for powersharing were essential to allow the restoration of devolution "that works".
"What has to happen is that Sinn Féin must not only take part in the policing board but also support the police, work with the police, report crimes to the police, and the IRA have to give up all elements of criminality on a permanent basis," he said yesterday.
"I think if that happens then I would be equally clear that the unionists must go forward and talk to Sinn Féin so that power-sharing and devolution can go ahead on a proper basis," added Mr Cameron.
Mr Cameron, who visited the Police Service of Northern Ireland training college, addressed the Institute of Directors and met the McCartney sisters yesterday, said he could accept the idea of the IRA becoming a type of superannuated force rather than actually disbanding.
"My own preference and the preference, I suspect, of most people in Northern Ireland, the Republic and in Great Britain as a whole would be for the IRA to disband completely and go away.
"But we have to deal with the world as it is and if the IRA became an old boys' network - Ian Paisley said that would be acceptable to him - it certainly would be acceptable to me," he said.
He said if devolution was to happen then DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley must talk to the Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams.
"I think that Ian Paisley and the DUP do want to make this work, and I think Sinn Féin want to make it work," he said.
Mr Cameron commended the peace process work of British prime minister Tony Blair, and made clear he would continue to endorse Labour government policy on the North.
"I want to give the prime minister all the support I can in terms of moving the process forward and making sure the St Andrews Agreement leads to devolution and power-sharing," he said.
"I may be leader of the opposition but I am leader of the loyal opposition and this is an occasion where opposition should be working with the government to try and make sure we do everything to encourage Sinn Féin to back the police and then encourage the unionists to talk with Sinn Féin, and then we can have devolution that works," added Mr Cameron.
"I think long-term the union can continue, absolutely," said Mr Cameron.
