The Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, has said he will study carefully Mr Tony Blair's speech to establish if it offers the reassurances he and other sceptics require on the Belfast Agreement.
The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, welcomed the Prime Minister's statement as providing the necessary reassurances there would be "plain and direct legislation" linking prisoner releases and Sinn Fein holding government positions with a permanent end to violence and decommissioning. However, Sinn Fein warned there must be no tampering with the Belfast Agreement and said it too would be studying the speech. It said the "republican position" should not be taken "for granted".
The DUP dismissed the speech as a PR exercise. The Rev Ian Paisley said: "The fact is the PM can't cherry-pick. He must accept the agreement as it stands. He has not the authority to adjust, amend or alter any part of it. That means the prisoners will get out of jail, the IRA will keep their guns, and Dublin will have a say in how we are governed."
Mr Donaldson was non-committal. He recognised a "more positive direction" from the British government, but he did not know if it went far enough. He expressed appreciation of Mr Blair's "obvious efforts" to address unionist concerns about the Belfast Agreement and in particular the release of paramilitary prisoners and the possibility of Sinn Fein in government without prior decommissioning.
"The Prime Minister has shown he is aware of the serious flaws," Mr Donaldson said. "Whilst his speech is a positive step in the right direction, it remains to be seen whether the agreement permits amendment to the extent required. However, we shall carefully study the Prime Minister's speech and will continue our consultations with our parliamentary colleagues.
"What we want is for the government to make strong clarification lines between democracy and terrorism. We want to ensure the decommissioning of terrorist weapons and the dismantling of terrorist organisations before Sinn Fein can gain the benefits of this agreement in terms of prisoner releases or ministers in government."
Mr Trimble said Mr Blair had graphically addressed unionist fears. "Reassurances are given, commitments are made, concerns are addressed", he said. There was no reason for any unionist to vote No in next week's referendum.
However, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, the Sinn Fein chairman, said: "People know that the decisions taken at last Sunday's Sinn Fein Ardfheis were difficult for many republicans. They were taken in good faith. We expect good faith in return. These decisions represent a deeply significant contribution by Sinn Fein to the search for a real and durable peace settlement, particularly given the opposition of Sinn Fein members and many nationalists to a Northern assembly. The mechanisms for change need to deliver change. Justice delayed or diluted is justice denied." He expressed concern that some politicians were "making linkages" and attempting to insert new promises into the Belfast Agreement. Last night a group of 20 victims of violence in Northern Ireland had a private meeting with Mr Blair at Stormont.
He told them it was a "very great privilege" to meet them and they discussed plans for aiding victims of violence. According to several of the victims, the issue of prisoner releases and the fears of a return to violence dominated discussions.
Mr Blair rounded off his brief visit to Belfast with a meeting with Prison Service staff of all ranks. They expressed their concerns for their jobs if and when the prisoners were released.