The IRA has stated its ceasefire is still intact and the British government has given a strong indication that the loyalist Ulster Democratic Party will soon be readmitted to the Northern talks.
The IRA statement, issued to the RTE newsroom in Dublin, said: "Contrary to speculation surrounding recent killings in Belfast, the IRA cessation of military operations remains intact.
"We reiterate our preparedness to facilitate a climate which enhances the search for a democratic settlement through real and inclusive negotiations," the IRA said.
Meanwhile, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, called for those who carried out the killings of Robert Dougan and Brendan Campbell to admit their actions.
"Whoever was involved in these two killings, in my opinion, should accept and claim responsibility for it." Mr Adams believed the IRA cessation was intact.
The North's Minister for Political Development, Mr Paul Murphy, said after a 21/2-hour talk via video with the UDP that the two governments would review its eligibility to return to the negotiations "by the end of February".
The UDP leader, Mr Gary McMichael, said his party was "confident and optimistic" that it would be at the talks table again before the end of the month, although it may not attend next week's session in Dublin. He believed the UDP would have access to the facilities of Stormont's Castle Buildings "within the next few days".
In a volatile situation, sources in republican circles said loyalist paramilitaries might have been active again recently in Belfast.
Commentators remarked that last night's IRA statement did not categorically deny any involvement, sanctioned or otherwise, by its members in the killings of the loyalist, Robert Dougan and the alleged drugs dealer, Brendan Campbell.
There was speculation that a statement from the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, was imminent and was likely to deal with whether the IRA was involved in the two murders.
In a separate development, the RUC said two men from Bangor, Co Down, were charged last night with possessing articles likely to be of use to terrorists. The men are due to appear in court in Newtownards this morning. They had been arrested on Tuesday night at the loyalist Belvoir Estate in south Belfast.
Mr Sammy Wilson of the Democratic Unionist Party said Sinn Fein would never be removed from the talks. "Given the thinking behind these talks, which was to find some way of negotiating with Sinn Fein, the government will never expel them."
Mr Adams has rejected suggestions there were grounds for excluding Sinn Fein from the talks. "We also reject any suggestion that we have in any way broken or breached or dishonoured the Mitchell Principles," he said.
The RUC in Belfast last night released four people who had been arrested earlier in the week following the killing on Tuesday of Mr Dougan. A number of other people are still in custody.Why Dougan murder may cost SF its place at talks Text of Murphy's statement on talks with UDP: page 6