The IRA has begun an internal debate on its future, Gerry Adams confirmed tonight.
The Sinn Fein president, who earlier this month urged the Provisionals to abandon armed struggle and fully embrace the democratic alternative, revealed he had been contacted by the IRA leadership to say it had authorised discussions.
Reiterating his appeal on April 6 was a bid to break the deadlock in the Northern Ireland peace process, Mr Adams said: "I am confident that the IRA will take this debate forward with all the seriousness that it deserves.
"I firmly believe that the way forward is by building political support for republican and democratic objectives across Ireland and internationally.
"Irish republicanism is at a defining point. The peace process is at a defining point.
"A positive decision by the IRA at the end of its internal deliberations will have enormous significance and impact. It has the potential to halt the downward spiral in the peace process and to strengthen our ability to advance our republican objectives."
Earlier this month, the Sinn Fein leader challenged the IRA to begin an internal debate on whether it should pursue its goals purely through politics.
But he stopped short of urging the Provisionals to disband.
The IRA said one day later it had noted his appeal and would respond in due course.
Tonight's announcement confirms an internal debate is now under way.
On April 6, Mr Adams said in a public appeal to the IRA: "In the past I have defended the right of the IRA to engage in armed struggle.
"I did so because there was no alternative for those who would not bend the knee, or turn a blind eye to oppression, or for those who wanted a national republic.
"Now there is an alternative ... the way forward is by building political support for republican and democratic objectives across Ireland and by winning support for these goals internationally."
Sinn Fein has faced increasing demands from political opponents to wind down the IRA in the wake of last December's £26.5 million Northern Bank robbery and the murder in January of Belfast father-of-two Robert McCartney.
There was a sceptical response in unionism and among nationalists on both sides of the border to Mr Adams's appeal, with opponents insisting all recruiting, training, intelligence gathering, targeting, weapons importation and involvement in criminal activity must end.
Others questioned the timing of the Sinn Fein leader's appeal, noting it was made at the start of the General Election campaign.
PA