The Rev Ian Paisley has signalled that even if the IRA decommissions and ends paramilitary and criminal activity, it could be well into 2006 before there is a chance of restoring a power-sharing administration in Northern Ireland.
The DUP leader, after speaking by phone with the Taoiseach and British Prime Minister yesterday, made it clear that Sinn Féin and the IRA now must deliver more than was expected from the republican movement in December to close a political deal.
"There will have to be full, complete and transparent decommissioning with witnesses and the production of immediate photographic evidence. Nothing short of that will be sufficient to build confidence with the law-abiding community in Northern Ireland," said Dr Paisley.
"Secondly, all terrorist and criminal activities conducted by Sinn Féin/IRA must cease and the criminal and paramilitary machinery abandoned," he added.
Had the September-December negotiations succeeded the DUP was expected to enter into a Northern Executive about three to five months after the IRA ended activity and decommissioned. This period was to test the bona fides of the republican movement but significantly Dr Paisley indicated a much longer period to establish trust would be required in any future deal.
"Substantial time will be needed for the people of Northern Ireland to be convinced that paramilitary and criminal activity has completely ended. It is the people of Northern Ireland, not government agencies that will have to be satisfied that all IRA activity is over," he said.
"There can be no question of the talks process that was brought to an end by Sinn Féin/IRA being renewed. We are now in a completely different situation and I have told both governments that they have an obligation to serve an ultimatum on IRA/Sinn Féin to cease immediately from their terrorist and criminal activity and to prove so by their deeds," added Dr Paisley.
"The province cannot be expected to tolerate another campaign of lies, treachery and deceit from Sinn Féin/IRA. They must stop their denials immediately. No one believes them. There can be no place in government for bank robbers and criminals."
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams, speaking before his meeting with Mr Blair at Chequers this evening, accused the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, of misrepresenting his and Mr Martin McGuinness's meeting on Tuesday with the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, and Mr McDowell.
"Martin McGuinness and I did not agree that the Sinn Féin leadership must go away and reflect on the Government's insistence that the criminality issue be dealt with," said Mr Adams.
"On the contrary we argued that the Government should not allow itself to be distracted from the difficult but necessary work needed to tackle all of the outstanding elements of the Good Friday agreement," he added.