Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams, the party's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness and its Kerry North TD, Mr Martin Ferris, have issued a joint statement this evening denying they are members of the IRA or its army council.
Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams has denied being a member of the IRA
"Despite our anger at attempts to criminalise our party and its supporters we have been measured in our comments," the three said in the statement.
"However, given the seriousness of Michael McDowell's outburst on the national airwaves on Sunday we have taken the unusual step of issuing a joint statement in response.
"We want to state categorically that we are not members of the IRA or its army council. Our involvement in the peace process is as leaders of Sinn Féin and as elected representatives for West Belfast, Mid Ulster and Kerry North respectively.
"As part of this, in the past we have met with the army council to put propositions regarding the peace process," the statement added.
They said Mr McDowell has been unable to distinguish between his role as Minister for Justice and President of the Progressive Democrats.
"He has made countless unsubstantiated allegations against our party and its leadership. Recently the Irish government accused Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams of withholding information and of conspiring to rob the Northern Bank in December. We challenged the government to stand this accusation up and they failed to do so"
They accused Mr McDowell of abusing his office. "If his view is shared by the Gardaí then the only way this issue can be confronted is for us to be charged with IRA membership", the statement concluded.