Not a single bullet...

"Not a single bullett - not an ounce of semtex"

When on the stroke of midnight, on Sunday 12th August, John Reid restored - or de-suspended - the assembly and other devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, he gave the politicians six more weeks to resolve their diffferences.

But why should another six weeks do the trick that the last six weeks have failed to?

Will the IRA make the physical gestures on de-commissioning which would allow David Trimble to resume as First Minister without losing all credibility with his Unionist party?

Can the multiplicity of ancient grievances be addressed even-handedly, which as the Northern Ireland Secretary has pointed out time and time again, lay at the roots of the whole arms issues?

Or have - as Martin McGuinness Sinn Fein's chief negotiator has argued - the British Government and the Unionists squandered the opportunities that the De Chastelain declaration has offered the peace process?

The gun has a long, if not alyways honourable place in the the history of Ireland. Both loyalists and republicans may argue they actually need their own weaponry for self-defence.

So how far can they go towards complete disarmament?

How much disarmament can Sinn Fein sell to the republicans?

And even if they do, surely the "not one bullet, not an ounce of semtex" hardliners will defect to the Real IRA?

Our reporter Angus Crawford has been to Northern Ireland to find out. To hear his package click on the audio button at the top of the page.