Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said in an interview today he does not expect an IRA statement responding to his calls for them to disband before the British Elections on 5th May.
"It's down to the IRA having a real debate. You can't deal with 30 yrs of conflict inside a few short weeks," Mr Adams said.
"I'm not expecting a statment within the next few weeks," he said.
Mr Adams was speaking on RTÉ Radio's This Weekprogramme today.
Last week Mr Adams made an appeal to the IRA to follow Sinn Fein down the political route.
"I want to use this occasion, therefore, to appeal to the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann to fully embrace and accept this alternative," he said.
Mr Adams said he knew "full well that such truly historic decisions can only be taken in the aftermath of intense internal consultation."
"I ask that you initiate this as quickly as possible," he added.
Mr Adams admitted today that the timing of his appeal was unfortunate due to the death of the Pope, the royal wedding in Britain and the fact that British Prime Minister Tony Blair is preparing for the elctions. However, he added that the issue was "bigger than the elections".
Some political oponents are sceptical of Mr Adam's appeal claiming it was a pre-election stunt by the Sinn Féin leader.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "A vote for Sinn Fein gives the IRA no incentive to clean up their act. But a vote for the SDLP keeps on positive pressure for an end to all paramilitaries."
"The best way to force the pace with unionists and force the peace from paramilitaries is to vote SDLP," he added.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny called the statement an "insult to the intelligence of the Irish people".
The Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said: "Despite the promises of a major breakthrough in the pre-publicity, his initiative amounts to little more than a call on the IRA to initiate internal consultations around the principle of 'purely political and democratic activity'".