The Government has said it accepts the conclusions of an Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) report that states senior members of Sinn Féin are operating at the highest echelons of the IRA.
In a statement this afternoon, the Government said it had considered the first report of the IMC that focused on military activity and had agreed that the report should be published today.
"The Government accept the conclusions and recommendations of the Commission," the statement said. "The Government appreciate the diligence and hard work of the Commission in bringing forward this report by three months.
"The report speaks for itself. It paints a disturbing picture in relation to paramilitary and criminal activity and deals with the links between political parties and paramilitary organisations.
"The Government acknowledge the constructive contributions that have been made by various parties in advancing the peace process to this point. But six years after the Agreement was signed, it is clear what must now be done if stable politics and a peaceful society in Northern Ireland are to be assured," the statement said.
"The transition to exclusively democratic means must be completed. We want this to happen once and for all, and as soon as possible.
"The people of Northern Ireland want a restoration of the devolved arrangements of the Good Friday Agreement. Everyone, including the two Governments, has a part to play in this but in order to make real progress it is essential that the issues raised in the IMC report are addressed as soon as possible," the statement concluded.
The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, suggested action on prisoner releases would be better than proposed financial penalties directed at the political parties.
Mr Trimble said he also welcomed the IMC statement that had the institutions been up and running, they would have looked at a number of options including the exclusion of Sinn Féin and the Progressive Unionist Party from office.
"I hope this and succeeding reports will tell the whole truth about the gangsterism, racketeering and oppression carried out by paramilitaries," he said. "Is it not the case that the proceeds of these crimes fund certain political parties?
"Should not the Electoral Commission and the Assets Recovery Agency be doing much more to stop this? Is it not time for the public mouthpieces for these gangs to tell the truth? It is a weakness that the IMC cannot sanction organisations without political representation," he said.