Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid has said he cannot understand the opposition to a paramilitary violence monitor.
Dr Reid denied the planned appointment was designed to strengthen the position of the Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble ahead of a meeting of his party's ruling council this weekend.
He dismissed the idea there was an acceptable level of violence in Northern Ireland and said he judged the Real IRA, Continuity IRA, other dissident republicans, the Loyalist Volunteer Force and Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Freedom Fighters not to be on ceasefire.
But he said "In the round I judge the Provisional IRA and Ulster Volunteer Force are on ceasefire. This doesn't mean to say I am blind to the fact that these, as well as other organisations, are involved in local violence and orchestration.
The monitor idea was being introduced to show there was no acceptable level of violence and because the Northern Ireland people had the right to know about the level of violence, said Dr Reid.
He said he would retain the decision on the paramilitary ceasefires, but it had been put to him there would be more public credibility if there was an independent method of reporting on paramilitary violence and he could see the force of the argument.
"I have said all along that a ceasefire is not enough. No one should think that merely by being on ceasefire that all other sorts of violence can go on and that is somehow acceptable to us".
PA