Martin McGuinness has told the US government he is certain the IRA will fulfil its promise to cease all paramilitary and military activity and that he expects no "unpleasant surprises" when the Independent Monitoring Commission reports next month and in January.
In Washington yesterday for meetings with the State Department and members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, Sinn Féin's chief negotiator said officials had sought assurances of the republican movement's unequivocal commitment to the rule of law and to the renunciation of all paramilitary and criminal activities.
"The issue did come up but I expressed my confidence that the IRA will live up to its commitments," he said.
Mr McGuinness acknowledged that the Democratic Unionist Party was unlikely to consider any restoration of the political institutions in the North until after the IMC reports. He said he shared the Taoiseach's view that the institutions could be restored by Easter 2006.
"The spotlight is shifting from the IRA to the DUP. I hope they will rise to that challenge," he said. Mr McGuinness met a group of congressmen with a history of engagement with the peace process before calling on senators Hillary Clinton, Edward Kennedy and Chris Dodd.
New York's Jim Walsh praised Mr McGuinness for his role with Gerry Adams in moving the republican movement away from violence and called on DUP leader Dr Ian Paisley to respond to the move with generosity.
"This presents a tremendous opportunity for Northern Ireland and its people for a peaceful dialogue. It's a real test of leadership, especially on the unionist side. Ian Paisley really needs to grasp this opportunity," he said.
Massachusetts's Richard Neal said the US had played an important role in bringing about the IRA's move away from violence and that it was British prime minister Tony Blair's responsibility to ensure the North's political institutions were restored.
"There is unyielding support here for full implementation of the Good Friday agreement, among Democrats and Republicans," he said.
New York's Peter King said that it was almost impossible to underestimate the significance of the IRA's action.