Northern Ireland would be "into or moving into a united Ireland situation" in 15 years' time, according to the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams.
He said that although this would a logical outcome in economic and social terms, it should not be seen as threatening. "What form it takes is up to the people."
He said the IRA would not be giving up arms in time for the March 10th deadline for the devolution of powers to the Assembly and other new institutions. However, he could not predict what might happen by the May 2000 deadline set in the Belfast Agreement for the completion of decommissioning. "Does David Trimble really expect by March 10th the IRA are going to do what he wants? He must know the IRA aren't going to do that."
On meeting the May 2000 deadline, he said: "To be quite frank, I don't know what the situation will be then. I read that the UVF are rearming, I read of the IRA's conviction that it has taken weapons out of commission.
"There has been no movement at all on the tens of thousands of licensed weapons which are in mainly unionist hands. This is undoubtedly a problem but Sinn Fein is committed to bringing it to a conclusion everyone is satisfied with.
"If the Ulster Unionists want to find some route to resolve the decommissioning difficulty then we are quite prepared to work with them and the international body to explore some other way forward," Mr Adams told PA News.
The Assembly meets again on Monday and the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP are expected to join forces to block the election of Lord Alderdice as permanent presiding officer. Up to now, the former Alliance Party leader has held the title of initial presiding officer and a motion to make him permanent in the post has been tabled by Mr Cedric Wilson of the newly-formed Northern Ireland Unionist Party and seconded by Mrs Eileen Bell of Alliance.
It is likely Lord Alderdice will continue in the role of initial presiding officer, but the permanent post is expected to go eventually to a nominee from one of the major parties, probably the SDLP.
The Assembly will also be asked on Monday to adopt formally proposed new government structures and North-South bodies in a cross-community vote. However, the UUP lobby group, Union First, has warned that by supporting such a move, members of the Assembly will be passing control over the creation of a power-sharing executive to the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam.
"If the Assembly votes on Monday to affirm the structures of government, then Mo Mowlam could cause the executive to be formed with the inclusion of Sinn Fein/IRA even in the absence of decommissioning," said Union First.
The SDLP has announced that the former lord mayor of Belfast, Mr Alban Maginness, who represents North Belfast in the Assembly, is to chair its parliamentary group at Stormont. The vice-chair will be Ms Patricia Lewsley (Lagan Valley).