The IRA is under intense scrutiny as the people of this island look to republicans for "acts of completion" and the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
If the IRA refuses to commit itself to ending all paramilitary activities, including punishment beatings, targeting and weapons procurement, the necessary trust between the pro-Agreement parties cannot be re-created and considerable damage will be done to the peace process. The Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, extracted two clear answers from the IRA last weekend about its intention to put all its weapons beyond use and that its war would effectively be over if the remaining elements of the Belfast Agreement were implemented. A third, positive response is now required.
Less than 48 hours remain in which a deal can be done to steady the peace process and move forward into elections designed to re-establish devolved government and the North-South institutions. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, suggested the timeframe yesterday when he joined with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, in calling on Mr Adams to clarify whether the IRA was committed to ending all paramilitary activities. He spoke about being a "whisker" away from final agreement and regretted the loss of two weeks during which the governments had sought definitive answers from the IRA on its intentions.
As on previous occasions, the shift in position by republicans came extremely late and as a result of intense and sustained pressure. The clarifications offered did not satisfy the Irish, British and US governments. And it was obviously hoped that some ambiguity would be grudgingly accepted in order to prevent the emergence of a political vacuum during the marching season. But, as Mr Blair made blindingly clear when he embarked on the "acts of completion" process six months ago, ambiguity is now the enemy of the Belfast Agreement and clarity its only friend. A tremendous opportunity exists for republicans to capture the high ground and to make a complete transition to democratic politics. The ending of all paramilitary activity is the price to be paid.
There is no doubting that a significant shift has taken place within republicanism. An undertaking to put all weapons beyond use and to acknowledge the war is over are two important steps towards normality. But a commitment to end all paramilitary activities is still awaited. The importance of that final question cannot be underestimated in the creation of trust between the pro-Agreement parties and in the normalisation of policing. Addressing the issue, Mr Adams said the logic of the IRA's statement of peaceful intent was that "there should be no activities inconsistent with this." But such logic cuts no ice with suspicious unionists. And, crucially, Sinn Féin could not be held to account under future disciplinary procedures for "unauthorised" IRA activities.
Republicans have come a long way with the Armalite and ballot box strategy. Sinn Féin has made immense progress. But the time for transition to democracy and for political clarity has arrived.