The IRA has praised the discipline of members following the decision to end its armed campaign last July. Its annual new year message makes no mention of the exposure of former IRA prisoner Denis Donaldson as a British agent, writes Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor
The statement, described as coming from the "leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann", sends New Year greetings to its friends and supporters in Ireland and abroad, especially to republican prisoners and their families. It commends republicans who are working for their early release.
"We salute the discipline and commitment of IRA volunteers, particularly following the momentous decisions by the army leadership. We remain wedded to our republican objectives. We are confident that these objectives will be achieved.
"We fully support and commend everyone working for these goals, especially our comrades in Sinn Féin."
The IRA leadership also sent "greetings to the republican activist base, which has been so steadfast in the face of severe provocations this last 12 months". While there was reference to provocation there was no comment about the exposing of Mr Donaldson as a British spy, or the continuing damage the affair is causing within Provisional republicanism.
The statement added: "We appeal for continued unity and determination in the year ahead. We are mindful that 2006 marks the 25th anniversary of the hunger strikes and 90th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic in 1916.
"We look forward to popular celebrations and commemorations of these events. There is an onus on all political leaders to play their part in achieving the essential political progress desired by all the people of Ireland."
SDLP leader Mark Durkan, in a new year statement, said people wanted to see a countdown to the restoration of devolution. "That means calling the bluff of all those parties standing in the way of progress and calling time on their delaying tactics. It means ending the destructive politics of side deals and concessions that is holding us back and taking us from the agreement that the people of Ireland voted for," he said.
Mr Durkan again called for the abandonment of the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill, which is designed to ensure IRA and other paramilitary fugitives are allowed to return home without serving any time in prison.
"We need to work on positive proposals instead for truth, recognition and remembrance that put victims' rights at their heart," he said.
Implicitly calling on Sinn Féin to support policing, Mr Durkan added: "2006 must also be the year that everybody accepts the lawful society. That means working with the police and accepting that the law applies equally to everybody - not backing vigilante networks that cover up the misdeeds of their own members."
On the subject of policing, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams issued a statement criticising President Bush's special envoy Mitchell Reiss for an article he wrote in the Irish Echo.
Mr Adams said the nature of Dr Reiss's criticism of Sinn Féin refusal to support the PSNI and join the Policing Board was partisan and unhelpful and gave succour to unionists still opposed to the Belfast Agreement.