An eagerly-awaited IRA statement on its future could come before early August, the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, told the Dail tonight.
Mr Ahern said that the Irish and British governments expected to hear from the terrorist group before the August bank holiday weekend in the Republic of Ireland.
The IRA has been considering its future since a major call in April by Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams to strive achieve its aims by political means.
Mr Ahern said: “Both Governments expect to hear over the summer period. We would expect to hear in the weeks immediately ahead before the holiday break in August. That is what we believe but we don't have any definite information.”
“The biggest issue is when we get the response, we get the right response. It would help everybody if we could remove the uncertainty.”
Mr Ahern said it was very positive that IRA activists around the country were engaging in debate about end the armed struggle.
“There has been all over the island of Ireland a meeting of people who have been involved in Provisional IRA activities over the years,” he said.
“The fact that they're debating the issue is itself a good thing and hopefully we'll get the right answer from them.”
The Dail heard that that since meeting Mr Adams in Washington on St Patrick's Day, Mr Ahern subsequently met Mr Adams before, during and after the General Election in Northern Ireland.
“Not to engage at all with Sinn Fein at all and just leave it go, would be dangerous to say the least. It wouldn't make any sense to do that,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, will hold meetings in Belfast tomorrow with PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde, newly-elected Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey, Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan and a SDLP party delegation.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Peter Hain today began a four-day visit to New York and Washington to inform Irish American figures on progress in the peace process.
PA