Fine Gael and Labour have accused the IRA of trying to threaten the people of Ireland with its latest statement.
In the brief statement issued this evening, the IRA warned the Irish and British governments not to "underestimate the seriousness of the situation".
Fine Gael's Mr Enda Kenny said this was "tantamount to a threat" and as such, had no place in any process of negotiations.
"The democratic political parties must stand firm in the face of this attempted intimidation." He said his party would allocate its Dáil Private Members' Time next week for a debate on the issue.
The Labour Party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, described the statement as "sinister" because it "contains an implied threat to democratically elected governments and to the people of these islands."
He said: "The comment I made in the Dáil this morning, that democrats should stand firm in the face of IRA belligerence, is all the more relevant in the light of this latest statement."