Sinn Féin has started to address key issues of concern but there can only be progress in the peace process if illegal activity ends, British Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman said today.
The murder Robert McCartney in January dominated the party's ardfheis in Dublin at the weekend. There has also been renewed focus on IRA criminal activity in the wake of the Belfast bank raid in December and the uncovering of a money-laundering operation in the Republic last month.
Mr McCartney's five sisters were present for Gerry Adams's presidential address in Dublin on Saturday.
Mr Adams aligned his party with the campaign to bring the killers justice, and he accused opponents of exploiting the McCartney killing and the Northern Bank robbery for political gain.
Last night he warned an expulsion process would begin against suspended party members unless they made "full and truthful" statements on the murder.
Although he acknowledged there was unease in the party about the issue, he said he was "duty bound" to suspend without prejudice members who had been named by the McCartney family.
Mr Blair's spokesman today said a variety of speakers at the conference had showed, whether it was "the McCartney murder or criminality in general or punishment beatings or policing or the position of the Irish Government, show Sinn Féin have at least begun to address the concerns".
These issues are "of concern not just to the British and Irish Governments and US government but also to people in Ireland north and south," he added.
"No doubt that will be explored in further contacts with Sinn Féin. . . . But the bottom line remains the same: that there can only be progress with Sinn Féin and republicans if there is an end to activity.
"But at least the ardfheis showed they are in the process of addressing those issues.
"Now in terms of the specific issue of the McCartney family, the McCartney family said after the Gerry Adams speech that they were encouraged by what he said but they want to see progress on the ground," he said.
"As always, the McCartney family have shown real leadership in terms of trying to get this issue addressed."