Senator Martin Mansergh, the former Government adviser on Northern Ireland, has questioned whether the Sinn Féin leadership has the ability to secure decommissioning and a cessation of all IRA activity.
Speaking after Wednesday night's IRA statement - and before last night's additional statement - he said: "There has to be a question mark in the power of the political leadership of the republican movement to deliver." Dr Mansergh said political parties in Northern Ireland "should be relying exclusively on their electoral mandates, instead of bringing in the IRA and its statements when things get into difficulties.
"I would want to acknowledge . . . people like Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, and a whole lot of other people have made an important contribution, and worthwhile contribution, and worked hard in the peace process. It is all the more disappointing we are now in this situation."
Referring to reports of divisions within the IRA on some of the concessions offered before Christmas, Dr Mansergh said there were still "a lot of sceptics" within the republican movement.
"But I think there are also people in, or associated with, the republican movement, now that the armed struggle is over, who would be extremely unhappy that the image of it is being tarnished by association with things, bank raids, the human rights abuses we call punishment beatings and shootings and Mafia-type activities. I mean is this what republicanism is about?"
Speaking on Morning Ireland yesterday, Dr Mansergh said he believed IRA activity was still the single greatest impediment to a comprehensive settlement. "To my mind republicanism is about uniting Protestant, Catholic and dissenter, and as long as the IRA exists the chances of converting any significant number of people among the Protestant unionist population in the North is absolutely nil." He believed the Northern Bank robbery was comparable to the Canary Wharf bomb in 1996 in terms of its impact on the peace process. "I mean there's a huge loss of trust." Dr Mansergh said he did not believe Sinn Féin could become part of any government in the Republic while IRA activity continued. "It is simply not possible to continue with paramilitary activity and operate a normal democratic party. "The truth is that Sinn Féin, regardless of extra seats they might or mightn't win, they wouldn't come within an asses roar of power north or south of the Border until the IRA is off the pitch."