But the DUP and UUP reacted cautiously to the IMC report, which concluded that the IRA and its army council is no longer active.

Mr Brown said: "It is now time for all the political parties to work together to complete the final stages of the peace process, to complete the devolution of policing and justice.

IRA army council 'redundant' - IMC Report

"In the next few days I will use all my efforts, working with the parties in Northern Ireland to make sure that the devolution of policing and justice can move ahead and the final stages of the peace process will now be completed to the better government of Northern Ireland and to the peace and prosperity of the people there."

DUP leader Peter Robinson said the IMC report vindicated DUP strategy to get rid of the IRA and all other paramilitary groups.

"The findings of this report confirm that our aim to achieve the end of the IRA is working," he said.

"We welcome the IMC assessment that on our watch the 'so-called military departments have ceased to function and have been disbanded' and that 'the organisation's former terrorist capability has been lost'."

Mr Robinson said unionists still needed reassurance that the IRA was gone forever and has indicated that any vestige of continued existence of the IRA is enough to block progress.

"While it is marked progress that the IRA is no longer 'doing business', the unionist community needs to be convinced by the republican leadership that the IRA is out of business for good."

UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy said the report would do little to break the current political deadlock.

He said: "None of this, however, has any real relevance to the major issues surrounding the devolution of policing and justice – and any attempt by parties or governments to pretend otherwise is a betrayal of public confidence.

"That debate remains, with the vital question about the ability of this Executive to deal properly with policing and justice powers completely unanswered."

Traditional Unionist Voice MEP Jim Allister said that the army council still existed, so nothing had changed.

"Today's IMC report, despite all its Jesuitical verbiage, is unable to say the IRA army council is gone – in spite of the fact that the DUP told us it would have to go before they entered government with their political wing.

"If the IRA's terrorist intent is at an end, why does the army council still exist?"

Others were more positive.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "This IMC report confirms that the vestigial existence of an IRA army council is not a latent threat to peace or democracy.

"Such a redundant entity should not be used as an excuse to prevent progress to the completion of devolution – they are neither a force of arms nor a source of threat."

Alliance Party spokesman Stephen Farry said: "This report delivers further reassurance that the IRA continues to pose no threat to the peace process and to wider society.