There has been much talk in recent days of the need to provide clarity and certainty within the Northern Ireland political process.
Unfortunately, most of the key players seem to be under the impression that this responsibility falls exclusively on the shoulders of their opponents.
A point has now been reached when all the constructive ambiguity, to use another constantly recurring phrase, needs to be swept away.
Ordinary people, in all sections of the community, simply want to know the basic intentions of the two governments and the main parties.
There is therefore an overwhelming case for the immediate publication of both the proposals drawn up by Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair and the statement put forward on behalf of the IRA. No one can say whether or not it will be possible to reach a consensus on the way ahead, but the era of communicating through nods and winks should be brought to an early end.
There is a growing sense that an outcome which facilitates the restoration of the power-sharing administration at Stormont is fully capable of being achieved.
A range of issues must be resolved before this happens, with the most important being the future of the IRA.
It is essential that the contradiction involved in holding ministerial positions while retaining a private army is directly addressed by republicans.
Not only unionists but the vast majority of nationalists in all parts of Ireland are hoping for a combination of words and deeds which will satisfy this requirement.
The onus will then be on all our political leaders to display their commitment to stable and permanent devolved structures.
In this way, the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement can finally become a reality.
