Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, has warned that speculation that the IRA is preparing to stand down to restore devolution in Northern Ireland was unhelpful to the political process. It could cause difficulties because people might be "disappointed", he said.
Following on reports over a week ago that the IRA was preparing to formally renounce active paramilitarism, Ulster Unionist MP Mr David Burnside yesterday claimed that the IRA was gearing up to make a dramatic gesture in the coming months.
Mr Burnside, speaking after a meeting with Mr Richard Haass, President Bush's special envoy on Northern Ireland, said the US administration was expecting a political breakthrough by February.
Part of the deal would involve a commitment that the IRA would be stood down. Mr Burnside added however that this would not be enough to persuade Ulster Unionists to rejoin Sinn Féin in the power-sharing Executive.
"If he [Mr Haass\] thinks there is any chance of unionists considering that with events in Colombia, Castlereagh and the spy ring, he is wrong. I can see no circumstances in the foreseeable future where the UUP can contemplate going into an executive with Sinn Féin," he said.
Over a week ago there was similar speculation in London newspapers of a radical move by the IRA in the early spring. These reports are generally accepted to have emanated from a briefing the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, gave to London journalists.
Mr McGuinness said he was concerned at such speculation which was proving "unhelpful". He did not make any direct criticism of the Taoiseach but added that "at this time it would be quite diplomatic and sensible for people to be very careful about the type of briefings that they are giving".
"All political parties and the two governments in particular should be very careful at this time about the type of language that they use and maybe also about heightening speculation that may result in a disappointment for others in the process," he told BBC Radio Ulster's On the Record programme on Saturday.
Trilateral talks chaired by Mr Tom Kitt, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and junior Northern Ireland Office minister, Mr Des Browne, are to take place at Stormont tomorrow and on Friday.
Mr McGuinness said there has been no real progress in the talks to date. A greater sense of urgency was required from the British and Irish governments, particularly from the British government.
The Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, is travelling to Washington today for a three-day visit during which he will meet key politicians, including Mr Haass. "Primarily, our focus will be on the imperative of reinstating the institutions, which the British government should never have suspended," said Mr Adams.
While senior Sinn Féin figures have been holding a series of meetings with republican grassroots in Northern Ireland and the Republic in recent weeks the party has denied that this is part of a "softening-up process" to prepare republicans for a dramatic IRA gesture.
A Sinn Féin spokesman described these meetings as a part of the party's regular briefings of members on current political development. Nonetheless they have also added to the speculation of a major new year initiative from the IRA.
Mr McGuinness said the Sinn Féin leadership was making it clear to members "that the key project at this time is to see a reinstatement of the people's institutions - the power-sharing institutions, the North-South institutions and the need for the British government to live up to its promise that the Good Friday agreement will be fully, faithfully and completely implemented".
