The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, repeated that there could be no progress on the peace process until Sinn Féin provided answers on decommissioning, paramilitarism and criminality.
"Everybody knows that. We have to get answers on those issues."
Reporting on his meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, on Tuesday, the Taoiseach said that a number of operations had taken place during 2004, not just the Northern bank robbery, which were the work of the Provisional IRA and would have had the sanction of the army council and be known to the political leadership.
"That was made clear, without equivocation and unambiguously," he added.
Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) asked: "Did they present you with evidence?"
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, said that based on the information supplied by the Taoiseach, it was obvious that Sinn Féin had been negotiating with the Irish and British governments over a period of time in very bad faith.
"Sinn Féin has clearly destroyed the level of trust by serious breaches of faith," he added.
Mr Ó Caoláin interjected: "That is totally untrue."
"At issue is an end to smuggling of whiskey, knee-capping, punishment beatings, diesel laundering, confiscation of cigarettes, smuggling of vodka, bank robberies and all the other elements of racketeering and criminality which abound and are driven by the Provisional IRA with, as the Taoiseach says, the knowledge of the leadership of Sinn Féin," Mr Kenny added.
Mr Ahern said he accepted what Mr Kenny had said was going on while the negotiations were under way. "There is no doubt that the planning and operation of those issues were taking place.
"I heard yesterday for the first time, face-to-face from Hugh Orde, the head of the PSNI, and from the Garda Commissioner, that the Dunmurry, alcohol and cigarette issues arose last year," he added.
Mr Ahern said that things had moved on. "We are trying to establish in Northern Ireland the assembly for which people voted and the executive to get the operation of the administration there working on a cross-party basis. We cannot do that unless we end these issues.
"If that happens, all of the other issues we have signed up to in the joint declaration to bring peace, stability and confidence to improve the quality of life for everyone in Northern Ireland, can kick in," said Mr Ahern. "We cannot do it the other way around."
The Taoiseach also said he would be against the exclusion of Sinn Féin from the St Patrick's Day function in the White House. Mr Ahern said, however, that he could not be sure President Bush would not take a different view.
"I would prefer people to confront issues and make known their views.President Bush, just as President Clinton before him, has been very helpful to the Northern process. Both of them have been very forthright, which is helpful."
