The Police Service of Northern Ireland has denied a DUP claim that a senior officer informed them the IRA was ready to return to violence.
Mr Paul Leighton, the Deputy Chief Constable, last night said that republicans still favoured a political path, although the IRA still existed and therefore retained some paramilitary capability.
The DUP claimed it was told by Mr Leighton - in a private briefing - that the Provisionals were impatient at the current political situation.
Mr Ian Paisley junior said: "There's a lot of squirming going on from pro-Good Friday agreement elements and the (British) government to try and throw a rope to the Provisional IRA."
His Policing Board colleague, Mr Sammy Wilson, claimed there could be no doubt about the police briefing. "This was the most damning security assessment we have had at this board in some time," he said.
However, Mr Leighton last night moved to clarify the situation. He told the BBC: "The IRA remains on ceasefire, they still favour a political way forward. What I did say [was that] the IRA still exists and therefore still have their structures and operational capability. The IRA hasn't disbanded as far as I'm aware."
He further said that IRA members had been involved in the recent spate of intimidation of members of the District Policing Partnerships and the abduction of Mr Gareth O'Connor last May.