The Minister for Social Affairs, Seamus Brennan, has said he does not see any prospect of Sinn Féin taking part in Government in the near future.
Speaking on RTÉ's 'The Week in Politics' programme, he said he could not underline enough the seriousness of Sinn Féin's situation now.
Earlier, Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, said Sinn Féin must make it clear that paramilitarism and criminality is over.
Mrs Harney also said that the party must clearly state that the murder of Jean Mc Conville in 1972 was a crime.
She described comments by Mary Lou McDonald and Mitchel McLaughlin on the issue as 'a serious set back for the peace process'.
The Tánaiste also said she believes that Kerry North TD Martin Ferris is on the IRA's army council.
Meanwhile, It has emerged that as well as meeting the Sinn Féin leadership in Dublin on Tuesday, the Taoiseach will also hold talks with SDLP and Ulster Unionist delegations.
The UUP leader, David Trimble, said this afternoon that he wants the two governments to make it clear to Sinn Féin both publicly and privately that there will no longer be any tolerance of criminality.
He said his party has some new proposals on how to find a way out of the current political crisis and he will be discussing his ideas with the Taoiseach on Tuesday.
