As tens of thousands of republicans prepare to take part in rallies to mark the 87th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the Ulster Unionists have claimed they have brought the IRA to the "closest point ever to disbandment".
The claim was made by Mr David McNarry, a close ally of UUP leader Mr David Trimble. He said his party's achievements should not go unrecognised. "Our doggedness and 'stickability' have brought the IRA to their closest point ever to disbandment.
"The IRA may never ever fully admit their efforts to achieve a unitary state by violent means have failed or been defeated. But unionists shouldn't be shy in taking credit where it is due for bringing about the circumstances in which republicans find themselves in today."
Mr Gerry Adams yesterday insisted Sinn Féin was not giving up on efforts to move the peace process forward.
Speaking in west Belfast on the fifth anniversary of the Belfast Agreement, he said efforts were continuing to break the political deadlock, and his party remained in contact with both governments.
Sinn Féin speakers will stress their commitment to the peace process at several rallies. Parades will also be held by the 32-County Sovereignty Movement and Republican Sinn Féin.
Mr Adams urged everyone to reflect on the political progress made in recent years, and counselled against despondency. "In terms of the current negotiations, it is difficult to give a sense of the character where we are at this time but I \ made clear Sinn Féin is in this to the end.
"We are not giving up. We remain in contact with all the players. I've spoken today with both governments. Everybody needs to remember there is a collective responsibility in this.
"All the main parties and the two governments need to be reflective and contemplative of how far we have come. They have to be mindful that this is a process and see if we can move forward to get the next bit of business done."
Mr Adams will address the Easter commemoration in Carrickmore, Co Tyrone. Belfast Lord Mayor Mr Alex Maskey will speak at the rally in the city.
Meanwhile, Mr Trimble yesterday said the North's peace process was being held up by a "couple of hundred hoods". He warned the political process was in danger of "crashing" if the British government continued to "drift".
Speaking on BBC Radio Four, he said the IRA and Sinn Féin had not delivered. Asked if the process was dead, he replied: "What is dead is the attempts being made by the government over the course of the last month or two to see if there is a basis in which the Assembly can be reformed.
"That huge effort involving the British government, the Irish government, with the US government. . .in support, that has failed.
"Why is it the expectations and assurances given by the republican leadership at the beginning of March, why have they not delivered on them?"
Mr Trimble then raised some "fundamental issues". "How is the Northern Ireland Assembly going to function? Is it going to stay completely there in suspense because if it is, what on earth are we doing conducting an election?
"If we are conducting an election how is it going to function because what's the point of an election to something that doesn't function? The government needs to think about that and produce an answer very, very quickly," he said.
"What we've got is a couple of hundred people who don't want to give up the old ways and who still benefit from the old ways, particularly in terms of racketeering. If we see it as being just the problem of a couple of hundred hoods I think we see the way forward more clearly."