A clear majority of nationalists believe the IRA should now disband, according to an opinion poll carried out this week in Northern Ireland.
Some 60 per cent of all nationalists, including 44 per cent of those who identified themselves as Sinn Féin supporters, told pollsters it was time for the IRA to stand down.
Support among nationalists for immediate total decommissioning of all IRA weapons was higher - at 70 per cent, with 59 per cent of Sinn Féin supporters backing such a move. The opinion poll, carried out for BBC Newsnight and the Belfast Telegraph, also illustrates a significant gulf between unionists and nationalists about the future direction of the peace process.
The poll's key findings also show: the clear widening of the gap in support between the Rev Ian Paisley's DUP and the Ulster Unionists; growing unionist hostility to the restoration of the Assembly, even in the event of IRA decommissioning and/or disbandment; a general dissatisfaction with the Sinn Féin leadership's response to the murder of Robert McCartney and deep scepticism among nationalists that the IRA was responsible for the Northern Bank robbery.
The party standings show some slippage in support for Sinn Féin since the Assembly election in November 2003. Gerry Adams's party is down 3.5 points to 20 per cent, whereas the SDLP now also stands at 20 per cent, up 3 points from 17 per cent.
The DUP is showing even more strongly at 28 per cent, up from 25.6 per cent at the last Assembly election. David Trimble's UUP looks to be in further significant trouble with support down to 16 per cent from 22.7 per cent in November 2003.
The poll uncovered 47 per cent dissatisfaction among Catholics about Sinn Féin's handling of the Robert McCartney controversy.
The survey's 1,010 respondents were questioned on Monday and Tuesday, before the IRA said it offered to shoot republicans directly involved in the killing of Mr McCartney.