The Government last night refused to comment on the IRA statement issued yesterday which claimed that the killing of Charles Bennett did not constitute a breach of the ceasefire.
"We never comment on IRA statements, but today's development and the ongoing investigation of the security forces will be taken into account," a Government spokesman said.
The brief IRA statement did not deny responsibility for Mr Bennett's murder but simply said its ceasefire remained intact. The organisation did not say its members were not involved in the attempted arms smuggling from Florida, but rather that the "army council" had not sanctioned any such operation.
Unionist politicians dismissed the IRA statement and demanded that the British government and the RUC offer their assessment of the security situation.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, renewed his call on the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, to make a statement on the status of the IRA ceasefire following the IRA statement.
"I do not think that it is possible for the Irish Government to simply avert its eyes from the killing of Charles Bennett. Inconvenient truths must be acknowl edged just as convenient truths are," he said.
He said it was not true to say that if the IRA had killed Charles Bennett that it did not constitute a breach of the ceasefire. "When Charles Bennett was shot, an IRA weapon was fired. Unless words have ceased to have any meaning, the firing of a weapon ends a ceasefire."
Mr Bruton said that while the IRA claimed that the "army council" did not sanction the arms importation, it did not make clear whether the "army council" was aware of it, or whether IRA volunteers were involved. "If either of these situations exist, the IRA has a responsibility which it should acknowledge."
The Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, welcomed the IRA statement saying it should end speculation about the status of the IRA's cessation. "The challenge remains for all of us in political leadership, but especially those of us who want a better future, to oppose the rejectionists and the wreckers," he said.
"Our focus must continue to be building on the opportunities created by the IRA cessation. This means all politicians facing up to our responsibilities."
Most unionists denounced the statement which they claimed contained deliberate ambiguities and lies. The carefully-worded two-paragraph statement is being seen as damage limitation.
It followed increasing unionist pressure on the two governments to take action against Sinn Fein following the murder and abortive arms importation.
Responding to the statement, the Northern Ireland Office said it would continue to take advice from the RUC and intelligence services on security matters.
"The situation is kept under constant review and everything must be looked at in the round," a spokesman said.
However, dissident UUP MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson said the silence from the authorities was "deafening" and it was now time for them to speak their minds. UUP Assembly member Mr Ken Maginnis accused the IRA of "blatant and deliberate lies" and said the statement should "be treated with the contempt it deserves". However, he declined to say whether Sinn Fein should be expelled from the talks process.
However, the Progressive Unionist Party spokesman, Mr David Ervine, welcomed the fact that the IRA had responded to public concern by at least issuing a statement.
The SDLP refused to comment, saying it was a matter for the two governments.