Parties cautious on IRA statement

Paramilitary weapons are again the major issue

The IRA's confirmation that it has agreed a plan to put its guns beyond use has gained a cautious response from politicians at Westminster.

But, as in Northern Ireland itself, opinion is divided on the significance of the latest IRA statement, which falls short of the actual start of decommissioning demanded by unionists.

the current impasse will only be ended when there is an actual start to decommissioning

Andrew Mackay
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid has not commented on the IRA statement.

The Conservatives have backed the unionist demand, but the Liberal Democrats argued that the IRA move puts the spotlight back on the unionists.

For the Tories, shadow Northern Ireland secretary Andrew Mackay said the IRA statement was "helpful", but did not go far enough.

"Crucially there is still no indication from the republican movement as to when the process of putting arms beyond use will begin," he said on Thursday.

Mackay: Start to decommissioning needed

"As far as the Conservative Party is concerned, the current impasse will only be ended when there is an actual start to decommissioning."

Liberal Democrat Northern Ireland spokesman Lembit Opik said a timetable for decommissioning would be helpful.

But he argued the ball was now in the unionist court, although both sides needed to shuffle forward together.

'IRA is serious'

Mr Opik told BBC News Online: "I believe the IRA are serious this time and so does the decommissioning commissioner.

"That is the crucial point - that the independent judge of whether paramilitaries are making progress towards putting their arms beyond use is satisfied that this is a significant development."

Opik: Ball in unionist court

Mr Opik said Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble had acted prudently throughout the peace process but was now being held back by a rump of hardliners in his party.

"The challenge is for the Ulster Unionists to decide whether they want to retreat into a hardline position or if they will take the difficult but progressive step of a show of good faith."

Deadlock

Mr Trimble, who resigned as first minister six weeks ago, has ruled out a deal and a return to the power-sharing executive at Stormont without actual IRA decommissioning.

He said the statement shows the IRA had discussed the "methodology" of decommissioning but the process itself had not started.

"The only thing that would create public confidence now is for it to happen - it still could happen," added Mr Trimble.

But Sinn Fein negotiator Alex Maskey said it was now up to the unionists to live up to their obligations as the IRA had shown its commitment to the peace process.

"David Trimble signed up to the Good Friday Agreement and should let the de Chastelain commission get on with their task and shoulder his responsibilities," said Mr Maskey.

For the SDLP, Mark Durkan hoped the statement would go some way to help satisfy unionist concerns that the IRA had begun "a quality engagement with General de Chastelain's commission".

Icy response

Meanwhile, the IRA's words provoked an icy response from Ian Paisley Junior of the anti-Agreement DUP.

"There is no mention of putting all the guns beyond use and there is no mention of timing in the statement," he complained.

The Northern Ireland secretary now faces the agonising choice of whether to suspend the province's devolved institutions temporarily to allow time to break the deadlock or to call fresh elections to the assembly.