The IRA is honouring its pledge to shut down all paramilitary activity and crime at an organisational level, Northern Secretary Peter Hain said today.
Even though Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain accepted that some IRA members are still involved in illegal operations, he insisted that was not a good enough excuse for political parties to refuse to restore devolution at Stormont by the November 24th deadline.
He said: "There probably is still some localised individual criminality by former and maybe existing Provisional IRA members for their own private gain.
"What there is not, is any organised 'from the centre' criminality any more.
"To that extent the IRA are delivering on their commitments made last July, not just in respect of shutting down paramilitary activity but also shutting down criminality."
The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists have been demanding more proof that the IRA has abandoned all violence and racketeering before they will agree to go back to a power-sharing executive in Belfast with Sinn Féin.
Dublin and London have warned the political parties that if they fail to revive a coalition government in time then they will take control of how Northern Ireland is run.
Following talks with Government ministers at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, Mr Hain stressed it was unrealistic to expect the Provisionals to deliver a state of absolute perfection in the time available.
The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, backed Mr Hain's assessment today.
Claiming the IRA had brought a halt to both its paramilitarism and crime, he told how leading members of Sinn Féin had called for the police to investigate a recent vodka robbery in Ireland when it was alleged that two members of the Provisional movement were involved.
Mr McDowell said: "I believe that's the first time remarks of that kind have been made in relation to a matter of that kind."
Asked if he believed the IRA's war was now over following its declarations and disarmament last summer, he added: "The Irish Government and British Government are working on that assumption, based on the evidence we have."
PA