Dublin reaction:The Taoiseach welcomed the IMC report as the most positive one yet, saying it was a very positive boost to efforts to restore the political institutions in the North.
In a statement yesterday, he noted that "the IRA leadership has committed itself to following a peaceful path and has expended considerable effort to refocus the movement in support of its objective.
"The IMC says it is not aware of current terrorist, paramilitary or violent activity sanctioned by the IRA leadership. It says the leadership continues to seek to stop criminal activity by their members and to prevent them from engaging in it.
"It also states that it is not aware of any intelligence-related activity which is outside the aims of the statement of July last year. Its overall assessment on the Provisional IRA is positive."
He said the report came at a crucial time, and he hoped it would add momentum to the initiative of restoring devolved government in the North this year.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said the report was "a very positive statement about the direction in which matters are moving in Northern Ireland, and in my view it should be seen in that light.
"The overall thrust of the report is positive, and I think anybody - any fair-minded objective person looking at the report - will say this is a positive report, a step in the right direction, and only curmudgeons will say this is a step backward."
He said he was happy that Sinn Féin spokesmen had condemned the recent vodka robbery in Co Meath, that it was a matter for the police, that those responsible should be tried.
"And, you know, we used to have statements from Sinn Féin saying they weren't in the business of condemnation - now they have it, and the reason I believe that is the case, and that change has come about, is that people, including myself and other Ministers of the Government and the Taoiseach, have stood up for basic respect of the law and have required them to clearly state what side of the line they're on."
He believed things were going in the right direction he hoped the initiative by the Taoiseach and Tony Blair would bear fruit later this year.
He said by November the DUP would have to decide whether it wanted the institutions in Northern Ireland to work "or do they want to walk away from the whole process and say: 'Let the two governments get on with the job'?"
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte noted that the report "confirms reports of ongoing intelligence-gathering explicitly to assist the political campaign of Sinn Féin; instances of a range of criminal activity by republicans; and the continued exertion of IRA control and influence within certain communities. This must remain a significant concern, especially as some senior members of the IRA leadership are identified as being involved."
However the report also said that there was a recognition within Sinn Féin of the need to support the PSNI.
"But little effort is being made within their constituency to prepare communities for a major leap on policing. Support for the PSNI remains the major signal that the IRA's campaign and activities are at an end.
"It will mean that any excuse to which the DUP clings to to avoid sharing power will be null and void."