Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Mr Martin McGuinness today dismissed speculation the IRA was poised to disband as "totally unfounded and misleading".
There was no basis to stories in a number of newspapers saying the IRA was close to announcing an end to all paramilitary operations, punishment beatings and surveillance, he said.
Mr McGuinness, Education Minister in the power-sharing administration prior to suspension said the speculation was damaging and undermined the multi-party talks currently taking place.
He spoke out in Dublin as Sinn Fein leaders met to discuss the political process.
His comments brought swift response from Ulster Unionists who said if the IRA was not ending its campaign then Sinn Fein could not return to government.
A senior source close to UUP leader Mr David Trimble said: "If they are not going to do any of this then Sinn Fein's reinvolvement in government and their involvement in policing arrangements can't be considered an option either."
Mr McGuinness said the reports, which claimed he was spearheading moves to persuade IRA to remove the threat of violence and effectively disband were way off the mark.
"I think people need to be very aware that there are people out there - and unnamed sources - their stories I think are very unhelpful," he said.
"They basically amount to totally unfounded speculation and I think they are quite mischievous."
Mr McGuinness said the way forward was the talks process, and he denied he had been holding secret talks with the IRA.
Sir Reg Empey, Economy Minister in the suspended administration and leader of the Ulster Unionist team at the multi-party talks over the past two weeks, warned the government against making more concessions to republicans to win return moves.
Action by the IRA towards disbandment was "going to have to be a lonely decision for republicans," he said.
"They are going to have to take it because it is the right one to take and the government should not allow them to lever out more concessions."
PA