The IRA insisted tonight its ceasefire was ahead of a meeting tomorrow between the Taoiseach and Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams.
As Sinn Fein prepared for meetings tomorrow with the Taoiseach and Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy, the Provisionals also denied threatening Protestant community workers in Belfast.
In a statement issued to the republican newspaper An Phoblacht, the IRA described allegations that it had compiled intelligence on around 20 community workers as "bogus".
It said: "These allegations are bogus and mischievous and are being exploited in an effort to undermine public confidence.
"Our cessation remains intact."
The Protestant Community Workers Association pulled out of projects involving community workers from republican areas after members were warned by police that information relating to them was in the hands of the IRA.
Progressive Unionist William "Plum" Smith said community workers felt betrayed to learn information relating to them was on documents and computer files recovered during police raids on republican homes since October.
He said: "The IRA is saying our claims are bogus but the nature of the threats we have been informed of is so specific that they could only have been compiled during and after events community workers on both sides have been involved in.
"The files they compiled quoted what people said and made derogatory observations.
"The IRA appears to be in denial and it is typical arrogance from an organisation which denied involvement with rebels in Colombia."
The IRA's denial surfaced as nationalist and cross community parties at Stormont joined British and Irish ministers at a meeting of a Belfast Agreement implementation group.
The meeting on equality and human rights issues was, however, boycotted by Mr David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party because they claimed it was "a smokescreen" from the real issue of the need to end IRA activity.
UUP senior negotiator Sir Reg Empey insisted: "Firstly, we believe that the agenda is a smokescreen to disguise the fact that republicans are in default of their obligations under the Belfast Agreement because of the paramilitary activity that led to this crisis.
"Secondly, the Prime Minister himself said that there should be no inch by inch negotiations and he set that out very clearly in his speech in Belfast in October. This is precisely what is happening today.
"Thirdly, there is a range of issues on the agenda today that are matters for the Assembly and the Northern Ireland administration and should not therefore be discussed at a meeting which is co-hosted by an Irish Government minister."
Today's meeting at Stormont marked the beginning of a period of intense negotiation, with Mr Ahern due to meet Mr Gerry Adams tomorrow, SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan on Wednesday and Mr Trimble on Thursday.
Mr Muprhy will meet Sinn Fein's vice president Mr Pat Doherty tomorrow but the big meeting of the week is likely to be between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Ahern on Thursday in Downing Street.
PA