Today's IRA declaration of an end to armed struggle was also another move towards the republican goal of a united Ireland, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said today.
In his first comments since the lunchtime declaration today, Mr Adams said it was also intended to advance the peace process.
The IRA called an end to its paramilitary campaign and instructed its members to "dump" their arms but it did not announce it was disbanding.
When asked what role the IRA would now be, Mr Adams said that was a matter for its members. However, he said it put more pressure on the party.
"My welcome for the statement is tinged with a sense of the enormous burden and responsibility it puts upon Sinn Féin and I am very, very clear about the role of Sinn Fein which is to work with others which is to bring a republican and democratic objective," Mr Adams said.
He refused to interpret the statement but when asked whether it mean an end to alleged IRA criminality - a key issue for the two governments and unionists, Mr Adams posed the question:
"When it says that it will commit its volunteers to democratic and peaceful means and forbid them to be involved in any other activity whatsoever. What part of 'any activity whatsoever' do the readers not understand."
He acknowledged that some within the republican movement may not welcome today's announcement and said dissident activity was a "concern".
He said he respected other republicans' right to dissent but urged them to stay united "and keep it in-house".
I don't believe any serious republican activist will join any of these 'microgroups'," he said.
He doubted there would be a return to loyalists attacks on nationalists which proved to be the catalyst for the IRA's armed struggle which began in 1969. He believed "society generally" would not allow a recurrence, though he had no confidence in the British government preventing it.
But he said sectarianism remained "a huge issue which has to be addressed".