There is a security and political expectation that the IRA will make a gesture on arms that could yet stabilise the Belfast Agreement, but it is still unclear when that will happen.
In the meantime another key element of the agreement that is particularly disagreeable to unionists was announced last night. On Sunday, November 4th, the Royal Ulster Constabulary will be officially consigned to the past to be replaced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The RUC name will be incorporated into the title deeds of the new force but for all operational purposes Northern Ireland will have a newly named police service whose members will be recruited 50:50 from the unionist and nationalist communities.
On the same day the 19-member Policing Board, part of whose remit is to hold the new force to account, will officially become operative. It will hold its first meeting the following day under its chairman, Prof Desmond Rea, who is perceived as "unionist", and vice-chairman, Mr Denis Bradley, a perceived "nationalist". Officially, both are designated as independents.
November 4th was chosen because that, rather oddly, is the day the first recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, numbering 308, 154 nationalists and 154 unionists, begin training.
With considerable understatement the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, described this as a "significant moment" for those who served or were associated with the RUC, or benefited from their service. An "emotional wrench" for them might have been a more apposite phrase.
Over the 30-year period of the Troubles 302 police officers were killed, while another 10,000 were injured. Last night's announcement will prove very difficult for the bereaved, those carrying injuries and, generally speaking, for most serving and former members of the RUC and their families, and indeed for virtually all unionists.
Dr Reid made some efforts to ease that distress. There was no fanfare to mark the historic changes.
This was a "new service for a new era. It will be a service that grows out of the great contribution of the RUC", he said.
He pointed out that, as Patten recommended, memorials to these victims of the conflict would remain and that the RUC George Cross Foundation would be established. The people of Northern Ireland must adapt to the changes as well.
There will be modifications to the police uniform, which will remain green, and the rather unwieldy title of the Police Service of Northern Ireland will replace the RUC name on police stations, vehicles, letterheads and so on. It will take some time for this work to be completed.
As for the emblems, badge and flag of the new service, those will be a matter for the Policing Board to decide. But as the board comprises nationalists and unionists it is highly problematic whether it will achieve consensus.
The likelihood is that ultimately it will be for Dr Reid after consultation to resolve. Again the pain will be for unionists because the British government has pledged that the symbols will be neutral of the British and Irish states.
Both the Ulster Unionist Party and the DUP reluctantly agreed to join the SDLP on the Policing Board, but Sinn FΘin is boycotting it. Nine of the board members are independent while the remaining 10 places are filled by UUP, SDLP and DUP nominees.
Sinn FΘin refused to take up its two positions. The board's vice-chairman, Mr Bradley, yesterday again urged Sinn FΘin to join the board and support the new police service. But so far republicans are not listening to such appeals.
They continue to complain that the police proposals don't match Patten and say they won't sign up to the reform. Therefore this change may have little effect on what the IRA does next, although that has not dampened speculation that it is prepared to do something substantive on arms.
The birth of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the demise of the RUC do confirm to both nationalists and unionists, however, that the structure of the Belfast Agreement continues to be erected.
Equally, republican antipathy has not stopped nationalists in their hundreds applying to join the new service.