THE British and Irish Governments have given the IRA just five weeks in which to announce an unequivocal ceasefire.
Sources in both capitals confirmed the effective deadline, as Mr Tony Blair again insisted "the settlement train is leaving, with or without Sinn Fein". And it was confirmed last night that the parties to the Stormont talks face the same deadline if they are to agree the removal of the decommissioning roadblock to permit the start of substantive political negotiations on September 15th.
However, any early optimism was checked when the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said he would require further clarification of the British government's proposed timescale, and said he remained deeply concerned that the decommissioning issue would become a block to substantive negotiations further down the road.
Before Mr Adams's statement, Downing Street sources told The Irish Times there was no need for further clarification and that the IRA should proceed to declare a ceasefire.
And the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, told Independent Radio News in London there would be no contacts with Sinn Fein for explanatory purposes.
"We have explained our position very clearly," she said.
The British Prime Minister confirmed his ambitious target for the completion of the entire process by next May as he told MPs the outlines of a political settlement were already clear, and that "the situation in Northern Ireland means delay is not acceptable".
Telling Sinn Fein it was "absolutely clear what they have to do", Mr Blair told the Commons: "I have dealt straight with them. I expect straight dealing in return. We and the other parties will not be waiting around for them."
The Prime Minister's warning to the republican movement won a powerful endorsement from Mr John Hume, the SDLP leader.
Mr Hume welcomed the "rational and reasonable steps" outlined by Mr Blair for Sinn Fein's admission to the talks some six weeks after an unequivocal ceasefire, and the agreed British/Irish proposals for resolving the decommissioning issue to the satisfaction of all the parties.
Mr Hume exhorted the IRA to "let the violence stop" and permit all parties to join the task of providing lasting stability.
But in the clearest signal of his growing impatience, Mr Hume continued: "If that is to happen in a totally peaceful atmosphere, all the better. But if it is not, let the rest of us get together and work quickly and strongly with both governments to reach that agreement, to put it to the people, and to provide lasting peace and stability."
Eager to produce just such a result, Mr David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist leader, retained his place on Mr Blair's "settlement train" without committing his party, to the terms for resolving the decommissioning debate agreed by London and Dublin.
While encouraged by Mr Trimble's initial response - in face of hostile criticism from rival unionist parties both governments last night acknowledged that the acid test for the UUP leader will come when the decommissioning debate is resumed in the Stormont talks next week.
Consideration of the London/Dublin proposals will begin at a full plenary session of the talks on Tuesday.
Technically the British/Irish text has no status but as a proposal capable of being amended. And there is anxiety that internal unionist tensions could see Mr Trimble toughen his position in response to possible "wrecking amendments" from the DUP and the UK Unionist Party.
Mr Trimble met his parliamentary party last night and is expected to have wide consultations with party officers and others over the weekend. He pressed Mr Blair to confirm that "decommissioning begins with the talks, continues with the talks and ends with the talks".
. In one of his last statements before leaving office, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, welcomed Mr Blair's statement and, in particular, his expressed wish to move as rapidly as possible to an agreed political settlement.
Mr Bruton hoped that all concerned would respond constructively and in good faith in what was a very difficult and delicate situation, in the interests of all the people of these islands.