On the broad Irish nationalist side, the new context represents a massive political opportunity. It is now time for all to put differences to one side, and pull together in the cause of Ireland.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, reacted in a somewhat ungenerous manner to the IRA decision, initially adopting a "wait-and-see" approach. Some suspect that he has allowed his fear of Sinn Féin as an electoral rival to Fianna Fáil to undermine his primary duty as taoiseach, which is to represent Irish national interests.

Instead, Ahern must re-double his efforts to implement all of the Good Friday Agreement, with or without the cooperation of unionists.

This means ensuring Irish citizens in the North can call upon a competent and impartial police service; that all-Ireland institutions actually function; that there is parity of esteem between nationalism and unionism, from the actual delivery of local services to the flags flying outside the building.

Equality will most likely, by itself, prove corrosive of the already failed state of Northern Ireland. It should be clear to most that a united Ireland is now no more than 20 years away, and the Irish government should start planning the transition as a matter of urgency.

Ahern's partners in government the Progressive Democrats would do well to jettison their strange, pro-unionist attitudes, and use their undoubted intellectual talent in helping to design this Ireland of the future.

Fine Gael, Labor and the Greens should make it clear that if they win a majority in the next Dáil election, they too will actively pursue and plan for a united Ireland.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP must play their part in the planning too, and co-operate far more on the ground.

They could, for example, adopt the U.S. primary system to choose a single nationalist candidate in tight constituencies.

Last, but certainly not least, Irish-America should - and this newspaper has no doubt that it will - once more step up to the plate.

In the short-term, this means everyone from the White House on down maintaining friendly but persistent pressure on the British and Irish governments to implement the Good Friday Agreement, with or without unionist approval.

In the longer term, and as so eloquently championed by the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland James Kenny in this edition of the Irish Echo, we must resolve to deepen even further the economic, social and familial ties that bind our two nations.