The North’s Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan, has warned First Minister David Trimble not to collapse the power-sharing Executive because of concerns over the IRA.
Yesterday, Mr Trimble signalled that he might resign from the Executive unless the British Government takes action about alleged IRA weapons testing in Colombia.
However, SDLP leader Mr Durkan said it would be a mistake to think that this tactic will work.
"We can all adopt tactics on different issues of concern to us and create a situation where we are starring in our own stand-off, but I am not sure those tactics are going to be productive," he said.
"Whatever the actions of paramilitaries or those in the intelligence agencies, is it really wise to hold the democratic political institutions in thrall to new stories about old concerns?"