Northern Ireland is within reach of new era of peace and stability, the Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy said tonight.
As Irish and British officials continued to work on a formula for breaking the political deadlock, Mr Murphy told the Dublin Chamber of Commerce he was "confident" the Assembly and power-sharing institutions could be restored.
However he said the "corrosive presence of paramilitary activity" had to be addressed if the peace process was to be repaired.
"As long as that activity continues there will never be true stability or lasting political progress," the Northern Ireland Secretary said.
"Because everyone needs to be confident that they are operating in a truly normal democracy, where physical force has no part to play in politics.
"I believe the next few weeks offers the chance to consign politically motivated violence to history."
Northern Ireland's Assembly and power-sharing institutions were suspended last October when the IRA was accused of operating a spy ring in Stormont.
Mr David Trimble's Ulster Unionists have demanded the IRA should start winding down its operations and complete its programme of disarmament.
They insist they will not return to a devolved government with Sinn Féin without assurances from republicans that that process is under way.
However Sinn Féin has argued the onus is not on republicans to move. They have pressed for an implementation plan from the British government honouring all commitments under the Belfast Agreement.
They want further moves on policing and criminal justice, the scaling down of Army watchtowers, an amnesty for on-the-run paramilitaries and the implementation of commitments on equality, justice and the Irish language.
The Taoiseach and the British prime minister are expected to test the water for any deal when they meet the parties next week at Hillsborough Castle.
Mr Murphy tonight acknowledged while unionists had concerns about the IRA, nationalists and republicans also needed needed "reassurance".
"They want to be sure that unionists will participate fully in power-sharing and that governments will work to make Northern Ireland truly normal by transforming the security situation to match that of any normal society."
Mr Murphy said he was confident everyone would "decide to play their part" in moving the process forward.
He based that confidence on his observations of both communities since becoming Northern Ireland Secretary.
"No one wants to return to the bad old days - as business men and women, you know that better than anyone," he told the Chamber of Commerce.
"I detect a refreshing political common sense in both communities when I go out and about in Northern Ireland."
PA