Speaking in Strabane this afternoon Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP said the focus should be on the peace process and not not smashing Sinn Féin.
"In order to distract attention from all other matters they are trying once again to smear republicans with the criminalisation slur," Mr Adams said.
"No republican worthy of the name can be involved in criminality of any kind. If any are they should be expelled from our ranks. We are not involved in criminality and we will not tolerate such behaviour," he added.
"There has been trial by media," Mr Adams said.
Earlier today the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said Mr Adams, Mr Martin Ferris and Mr Martin McGuinness are members of the seven member IRA army council.
The minister made his comments on a Today FM debate.
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness refuted this saying "its not true and I reject it absolutely".
"Michael McDowell has been very hostile against SF and this type of language from him is not a surprise," Mr McGuinness added.
"I'm not a member of the IRA. I was many years ago. I am one of the leaders of Sinn Féin. I have met with the IRA to try and bring about a cessation," he said.
Mr McGuinness also denied that Mr Adams or Mr Ferris were members of the IRA.
However, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Dermot Ahern said "based on the intelligence we get from Garda Siochana we are absolutely satisfied that the leadership of SF and the IRA are interlinked".
In relation to the Northern Bank robbery Mr Ahern said he felt it was "inconceivable" for anyone not to accept there was provisional IRA involvement.
Mr McGuinness and Mr Ahern made their comments during a RTE radio interview.
Meanwhile the Labour Party leader Mr Pat Rabbitte said the only way forward was for the leadership of Sinn Fein to renounce its links with the IRA
In a statement issued today he said, "they [Sinn Fein] must make it clear to everyone that: they do not seek, and will not accept, the support of an armed wing; that they will not seek to hide or cover-up any act of criminality; that they will in future accept the democratic institutions on this island, in the case of the Republic underpinned by our Constitution and in the case of Northern Ireland founded on law, as the only legitimate forms of authority; that they call on all members of the republican movement to lay down their weapons, now and for ever".
"Such a declaration by the leadership of Sinn Fein would begin the process of rebuilding trust, a process they will have to accept will take a long time," Mr Rabbitte said.