Politicians from both communities in the North have criticised the British Prime Minister and Northern Secretary's statements on paramilitaries as not going far enough.
The Deputy First Minister and SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, said the statements were setting a "dangerous precedent" by not dealing with paramilitary action to date. Tempering his criticism, however, Mr Durkan said if the proposed measures brought effective protection to vulnerable communities they would be welcome.
Echoing his sentiments, Ulster Unionist MP the Rev Martin Smyth accused Mr Tony Blair of creating an "acceptable level of violence" by concentrating on future violence.
"He [Mr Blair] has now officially turned a blind eye to recent terrorist activity. This statement is impotent because paramilitaries will look at the \ government's past record for carrying out its threats and not take it seriously," he added.
An Ulster Unionist peer and former party security spokesman, Lord Maginnis, said he was cynical about any government promises to clamp down on paramilitaries.
"It looks as though some people think the \ agreement was there to provide a facility for Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. It is not. We despise those people and always will," he added.
Describing the two statements as "weasel words", the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said Mr Blair was continuing to move the goal posts instead of promising firm action.
"The law-abiding people in Northern Ireland have once again been disappointed. Sinn Féin/IRA remain in office despite a catalogue of events which would not be tolerated in any other democracy. How much more must the decent people here suffer before resolute action is taken against those determined to wreck our society?" he asked.
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, described Mr Blair as a "serial promise-breaker", while his party colleague, Mr Peter Weir, said the two statements were "utterly vacuous". "The startling new idea of writing to paramilitary parties to ask them if they are good boys and girls beggars belief," he added.
"The government says that it will not tolerate violence but that is exactly what they are doing. Loyalists and republicans are literally getting away with murder." The two statements constituted a "missed opportunity", the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, insisted.
"The British government has failed to deal with the real crisis which our society is facing and that is the sustained and orchestrated campaign of sectarian violence by loyalist groups, especially the UDA campaign. Their comments do not address this dangerous situation," he said.
The Alliance Party leader, Mr David Ford, said the statements in themselves resolved nothing. "It is now incumbent on the \ government to turn these fine words into tough action otherwise it risks ever further damaging its credibility in Northern Ireland."
Now that Mr Blair had spelt out more clearly what standards were needed in the security process it was up to local politicians to play their part by making the political process work, Women's Coalition MLA, Prof Monica McWilliams, stated.
Welcoming the statements, the North's Workers' Party said they should to some extent rebuild confidence in the peace process adding: "Now all parties must pledge to eradicate the scourge of sectarian and paramilitary violence no matter what source it comes from."
The Protestant victims' group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR) described Mr Blair's statement as "double speak and hollow promises".
"The Prime Minister made a series of pledges in the run-up to the signing of the agreement which have all subsequently been broken. Likewise Bertie Ahern threatened to crack down on the IRA if they did not comply, he told us he would destroy their bunkers if they defaulted. We now call upon the two prime ministers to make good on their promises and work together with the people of Northern Ireland to rid our land of the scourge of terrorism."