It has often been said that, in Irish politics, those who are not confused are failing to appreciate what is really happening.
That suggestion can certainly be applied to the two latest statements released by the IRA, which were still being analysed yesterday in Belfast, Dublin and London.
We have had so many declarations, clarifications and rebuttals over recent weeks that the general public could be forgiven for maintaining an attitude to the entire debate which ranges between cynicism and apathy.
However, it is essential that we look beyond what are hopefully short-term difficulties and concentrate on our main priorities.
The key objective must be the achievement of peace and reconciliation in Ireland.
It goes without saying that, in the absence of true reconciliation, peaceful settlements will always have uncertain foundations.
The Good Friday Agreement provides the structure which is fully capable of delivering both peace and reconciliation.
Although we have already spent more than five years trying to completely implement the agreement, we have moved an enormous way towards reaching this goal.
The most recent IRA statements provide another step forward, and represent a substantial contribution from the republican movement.
Sections of the statements are reasonably clear, but other parts remain open to interpretation.
It was striking to find the IRA specifying that it posed no threat to either the unionist people or the peace process but failing to make a similar reference to nationalists.
In other words, the suspicion exists that the IRA might still consider engaging in paramilitary punishment attacks if the victims were perceived as nationalists.
It is reasonable to expect that republicans should remove any remaining doubts over this and other related issues once and for all.
This could be accomplished through a form of words, but a commitment to supporting our new police service would be by far the most effective means of signalling that we really are in a new era.
The renewed IRA links with General John de Chastelain's decommissioning body are also vital and need to be developed to their logical conclusion.
It needs to be accepted that Tony Blair's decision to postpone the Northern Ireland Assembly elections was a basic misjudgment which has presented us with additional complications but we cannot allow an understandable sense of frustration over this delay to dominate all other proceedings.
Nationalists need to do everything possible to facilitate the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
The onus will then be on the unionists and the British government to deliver on their own responsibilities.
