FERGUS FINLAY
Special adviser to former Irish Labour Party leader Dick Spring. In 1996 he declared that inter-party talks on the future of Northern Ireland without Sinn Féin were "not worth a penny candle".
"Sinn Féin is giving the impression of being under extreme pressure," he said.
"I don't think it (Tony Blair's speech) has made things impossible for republicans.
"I think what Blair was doing was reflecting what an awful lot of people on the island feel – either the war is over or it isn't.
"If it is over, and it is possible to say it privately, why not say it publicly?
"I think what he (Mr Blair) has done is said 'I don't understand the IRA statement, I need answers'.
"If the IRA are saying the answers are there, and Blair can't understand the answers, it is up to them to make him understand.
"I think what is necessary now is to keep the pressure on for clarity. At the moment the IRA owes us clarity.
"If we don't get it, we have a difficult situation. But the worst thing you can do is walk away from it (the peace process).
"I think the IRA is on the brink of saying something historic and very important for all of us. I think they want to give clarity but I don't think they know how.
"Dialogue is the only possible way of doing it. What Blair did was part of that, and what Ahern did (in a weekend speech), was part of that.
"I don't think they (IRA) will do anything that is asked of them.
"I think the process going on is a process of urging them to be clear and direct about the things.
"There has never been any doubt in anyone's mind that the 'war' would be brought to an end. Sinn Féin has been saying privately for some time that we are at that stage.
"But something has gone wrong. In my observation, it seems to be between Sinn Féin and the IRA that something has gone wrong.
"I hope it will be resolved short-term. The longer it goes on the more dug in people will become.
"I think one of the options available is for all of the documentation to be published and for people to make up their own mind.
"I think it would be a pity if the whole process was mothballed now. It is important to try and keep the process going for as long as possible."
ALBERT REYNOLDS
The former taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader was one of the architects of the peace process and was instrumental in bringing about the 1994 IRA ceasefire.
"The process is lasting too long. Too many deadlines have come and gone which makes reaching a deal that much more difficult," he said. "My personal view from a political standpoint, is that David Trimble and the UUP may have decided to stand back from a deal before the elections. If that is the case we are all entering the unknown but hopefully I am wrong.
"For the sake of peace and justice, that should be the overriding factor throughout the remainder of the peace process.
"If the two governments and the pro-agreement parties proceed with continuing to ask questions, and inevitable supplementary questions, then the process could continue ad infinitum.
"If the political will exists all round, then words alone should not prevent agreement being reached and that is the wish of the vast majority."
MARTIN MANSERGH
The former special adviser to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and now a senator, Dr Mansergh has been an influential figure in the peace process since the 1990s.
"The message (in Tony Blair's speech) was not subtle. Obviously republicans are likely to react badly in the short term.
"But there isn't a resting place in the journey between paramilitarism and democracy, and the two won't mix over any length of time.
"I think they (the IRA) need to bear in mind that producing clarity on the issue, will take away any remaining excuses unionists have for not working with them.
"The unionist case doesn't stack up very well these days anyway."
TOMMY MCKEARNEY
The left-wing republican and former IRA prisoner and hunger striker, is a critic of the Good Friday Agreement.
"I do not represent the majority of opinion within the republican community, but I think there is a considerable amount of apprehension, to be honest.
"Tony Blair has asked questions in such a way that he has essentially laid down conditions.
"I think he has certainly made it difficult but the point about it is, he is being very frank, brutally frank, with Sinn Féin and the IRA. The political landscape is such that there won't be devolved government for the various parties unless the IRA effectively does one of two things – ceases to function as the IRA, or there is a form of political divorce between Sinn Féin and the IRA.
"In the short term, there will be denial in republican circles, refusal to accept this is the inevitable outcome of the process.
"The condition laid down by Blair will be rejected in the short term.
"But in the long term I think the situation is such that Sinn Féin has committed itself to a course of action that it does not want to abandon, and that in time, it will either persuade the IRA to comply with conditions laid down by Blair, or Sinn Féin will move towards separating itself from the IRA.
"I think with either option, Sinn Féin is determined to return to the executive at Stormont.
"I think what is happening is that Blair, who made his statement with the full support of the Irish government, unionists and US administration, has made non-negotiable conditions.
"If Sinn Féin and the republican movement want back into the political process, they will have to change."
And what about any timescale for a breakthrough? "That is very much a crystal ball prediction.
"I wouldn't be shocked if it came in the near future. It might be towards the end of next year or early next year. It will take that long for the leadership or movement to transform.
"I am critical of the agreement. I don't see the Good Friday Agreement as being a lasting meaningful settlement as such, but I am very much opposed to a resumption of the armed campaign.
"We have reached a stage now where we must look at the Good Friday Agreement, not in terms of peace but in terms of politics.
DENIS BRADLEY
A former priest who helped foster contacts between the IRA and British government, he is now vice-chairman of the cross-community Policing Board.
"This (crisis in the peace process) is a rather sad situation, but I am a great believer in that you can make dark and hopeless situations creative.
"I'm not inside the loop on this (talks), but the most hopeful thing I heard in the last few days came from Gerry Adams when he said 'this is the time when we need deal-makers'.
"As I see it the two governments are looking for words that are clearer than those they have already received.
"On the other hand republicans are determined not to be humiliated or appear to surrender to unionist dictats.
"If you look at the three questions Tony Blair has asked arising from the IRA statement, I think a deal is still possible if you had deal-makers.
"If I was the republican movement I would ask the governments to appoint a couple of deal-makers.
"I think the people who have put it together are so tired and exhausted, they don't have the objectivity or energy.
"Maybe republicans thought they could make this work and yet keep the IRA in existence. Maybe unionists thought they could defeat the IRA or get them to surrender.
"Both positions were never obtainable and maybe we all have to face those realities and in facing them find another way through."
