Unionists reacted with hostility to Gerry Adams's address to the IRA yesterday, with the Democratic Unionists claiming no-one would be duped.
Ian Paisley described Gerry Adam's address as "an insult to democrats" and said "no one will be taken in".
" I don't think there is any hope for Sinn Féin and the IRA," he said.
Mr Paisley added: "There must be a complete and total abandonment of IRA/Sinn Féin and that's not going to happen. The DUP won't be back in any negotiating table. He [ Gerry Adams] has put himself outside the arena. It is all over. There is no place in any democracy for terrorists and no place for IRA/Sinn Féin."
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble challenged Mr Adams's claims and denied republicans had kept to every commitment.
"Republicans made a promise to Ulster Unionists in May 2000 that they would disarm completely and in a manner to maximise public confidence. They also promised in that statement to pursue their objectives peacefully and democratically. These promises were not kept," he said.
"If republicans wish to be included in talks then they must rebuild their credibility by doing all the things they should have done and present themselves as a purely peaceful democratic movement with no private army."
The SDLP said what mattered was not Gerry Adams's words but IRA actions.
Deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said it remained to be seen whether the IRA would end its activities, including involvement in organised crime.
"People know that it is actions - not words - that count. They will want to know that the IRA is ending all its activity and all its organised crime for good."
Alliance leader David Ford said the Sinn Féin president had still to indicate whether republicans "are prepared to accept the same common standards of democracy, human rights and the rule of law as everyone else".