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Your support makes all the difference.Tony Blair said today the IRA had failed to provide a "clear and unambiguous" commitment to Northern Ireland's peace process.
The Prime Minister told a media briefing in Downing Street that the parties to the Northern Ireland peace process were "frustratingly close" to an agreement - but had yet to finalise a deal.
Referring to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams's insistence that the IRA's commitments to the peace process were clear, Mr Blair said: "The truth is, so far as we are concerned, and the Irish government is concerned, and the US government, they are not clear and unambiguous, they are uncertain."
Mr Blair continued: "There are essentially three questions that arise and I think you will find that when I describe these three questions, they are all questions that are perfectly capable of clear and plain answers.
"Let me spell them out for you because these are the three fundamental questions.
"When the IRA say that their strategies and disciplines will not be inconsistent with the Good Friday Agreement, does that mean an end to all activities inconsistent with the Good Friday Agreement, including targeting, procurement of weapons, so-called punishment beatings and so forth?
"Secondly, when they say that they are committed to putting arms beyond use through the decommissioning commission, does that mean all arms so that the process is complete?
"And thirdly, when they say that they support the Good Friday Agreement and want it to work, does that mean that if the two Governments and the other parties fulfil their obligations under the Good Friday Agreement and the joint declaration, does that mean the complete and final closure of the conflict?"
Mr Blair said he did not believe his questions were too difficult to answer.
He continued: "Because this whole process is about the trust that people need and the confidence that they need, then the answers have got to be clear."
The Prime Minister also said his Government wanted a positive backdrop to Northern Ireland Assembly Elections on May 29.
"The election date is set in law, but I want to go into it with a positive framework," he said.
The leader of the loyalist Progressive Unionist Party David Ervine said it was clear from the Prime Minister's comments that the IRA would have to answer the question of whether its war is over.
The East Belfast MLA, whose party is linked to loyalist paramilitary groups the Ulster Volunteer Force and Red Hand Commando, said: "Maybe standing behind the Prime Minister are 60 million people waiting to hear if the IRA will say the war is over.
"Maybe in Prime Ministerial language, that it what he is asking.
"What is clear is that our problems will not be sorted out until that question is answered.
"Clearly, that question is also going to be put to me as a loyalist politician but I have to say we cannot get off first base until we know exactly where republicans stand on this issue."
Peter Robinson, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, said Mr Blair's assessment showed that he was prepared to take a statement from the IRA at face value.
"It seems to indicate that if the IRA said something, he would believe it. The IRA have proved themselves to have lied consistently throughout the process."
Mr Robinson added: "He (Mr Blair) said that clarity was our friend. Clarity begins at home and we are looking for clarity on the Hillsborough sellout.
"We want to know the on-the-run terrorist arrangements and the devolution of policing and justice powers to IRA representatives.
"We also want clarity on the disbandment of the Royal Irish Regiment and on the role on policing for republicans, particularly those who have prison sentences behind them."
An Assembly member with the cross-community Women's Coalition hit out at the British and Irish Governments for the way they were trying to secure a deal with the IRA.
South Belfast MLA Monica McWilliams said: "The questions the Prime Minister is asking are fair enough but I have to say we are extremely angry with the way the British and Irish Governments are trying to close this deal with the IRA.
"What the Prime Minister is doing is negotiating by proxy through the press over the heads of those parties who collectively negotiated the Good Friday Agreement five years ago.
"We know we are not central to this process but we also have a stake in this process and should have a say."
The Women's Coalition MLA said she would making this point vigorously to Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy at a meeting at Stormont later today.
Mr Blair's official spokesman did not rule out pressing ahead with elections without further progress.
"The May 29 date is there. As the Prime Minister said, we hope to go in to the elections on a positive note rather than a negative note," he said.
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