The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, yesterday insisted that Sinn Féin can no longer be ambivalent towards the armed struggle and criminality if there is to be a resolution to the current impasse in the peace process.
"Some are not prepared to sign on for democratic politics as the only way forward, and Sinn Féin are still ambivalent in relation to the armed struggle and criminality, and for as long as they remain ambivalent, we will not resolve the issues. That is my strong view," she said.
Ms Harney refused to be drawn on whether the US government should issue a visa to Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams to allow him visit America for fundraising activities. "That's a matter for the US authorities, it's not a matter for me."
She said the release of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe was not on the table for negotiation, and would never be unless there was an end to criminality by the IRA. Ms Harney said the refusal by republicans to sign up before Christmas to an end to all criminal activity posed serious difficulties for the peace process.
Speaking in Cork, Ms Harney backed the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, in his condemnation of Sinn Féin's Mr Mitchel McLaughlin for his refusal to admit that the murder of Ms Jean McConville in December 1972 was a crime.
