Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain was accused today of trying to ignore IRA involvement in criminality.
Democratic Unionist MEP Jim Allister made the allegation after Mr Hain said in a pre-recorded television interview that he did not believe those reluctant to share power with Sinn Fein could use the IRA as an excuse for much longer.
As Northern Ireland politicians waited for the publication this week of the latest report on paramilitary activity by the Independent Monitoring Commission, Mr Hain said the signs were encouraging from republicanism, with the IRA cracking down on criminal activity.
"The overall picture is of a Northern Ireland light years away from where it was," the minister told GMTV's Sunday Programme.
"I don't think that any politician in Northern Ireland can use the excuse for much longer that the IRA poses a terrorist threat or that it's organised some central criminal conspiracy as a reason not to join in a power-sharing government over the coming period."
He continued: "I think all the signs are, and all the evidence is, that now the momentum and the direction of where republicans are going is overwhelmingly to engage in democratic politics."
However Mr Hain's comments angered the DUP's Jim Allister who claimed it indicated the government was prepared to turn a blind eye to criminal activity by the IRA.
"Hence his attempt to bounce unionism by focussing solely on violence," the Northern Ireland MEP said.
"For unionism, however, the issue is not just about direct IRA violence, it's about attaining an irreversible end to the whole panoply of their activities, including criminality in all its forms.
"Hain may wish to ignore this but we will not."
Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has given Northern Ireland's Assembly parties until November 24th to set up a power-sharing government in the province.
The Assembly will be recalled on May 15th, with the 108 MLAs initially being given a six-week period before the summer to try and set up an inclusive multi-party executive.