Republicans banished abroad by the IRA are free to return but must first contact their communities, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said today.
The terrorist group has exiled scores of people in Northern Ireland for engaging in anti-social behaviour within their localities.
But Mr Adams said today that the IRA no longer posed any threat to those republicans too fearful to return home.
"Take the recent IRA statement, as I do, in which it said it would cease all activity. Therefore the IRA is a threat to nobody. There is no threat as far as I can see from the IRA.
"Would I encourage people to come back? Let those who were committing offences within their communities contact their communities about that."
Mr Adams urged everybody to use common sense when dealing with the matter.
There were emotional scenes in the British parliament yesterday as legislation granting an amnesty to on-the-run [OTRs] fugitives was given its second reading.
Under the controversial law, those wanted by police for offences committed before the Belfast Agreement was signed in 1998 will be free to return home without any court charges.
The British government, which faced significant opposition to the proposal from Northern Ireland and opposition MPs, said it was necessary to kick-start the stalled peace process.
But Mr Adams said today that the original proposals agreed at Weston Park in a statement by the two Governments did not involve members of the British Crown forces.
PA