Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today called on the IRA to help the Police Service of Northern Ireland in their investigation into the murder of Robert McCartney.
He said that all parties who were present on the night when the Belfast father-of-two was stabbed to death should co-operate to ensure successful prosecution.
"The only people who have the authority under law and the ability to deal with that is the PSNI."
"They need co-operation to do that and if the IRA can assist in all of that, then that's part of the answer," he said.
The family of Mr McCartney have criticised the IRA for failing to co-operate fully, despite the expulsion of three of its members last week for their involvement in the stabbing.
Mr Ahern said he was encouraged by the positive comments made by Democratic Unionist leader the Reverend Ian Paisley at the prospect of resuming power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
Dr Paisley has said he would be prepared to re-enter a power-sharing agreement with Sinn Féin if there was an end to IRA activity and criminality.
Mr Ahern said this had been the consistent position that the DUP had articulated at the talks before Christmas, which failed to reach agreement.
PA