Pressure builds on IRA to disarm

In the advent of an Ulster Unionist ministerial withdrawal en masse from Northern Ireland’s Executive, calls have been made emphasizing the need for decommissioning from the IRA to begin in order to save the institutions from collapse.

Ulster Unionist ministers announced last week they would be initiating a phased out withdrawal from the power-sharing government later this week in the absence of IRA decommissioning. But Mr Trimble has refused to say exactly when his ministers will step down.

Speaking from the United States Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has said there is still time to prevent the resignation of his party’s ministers from the power-sharing executive.

Billy Armstrong, Assembly member for Mid-Ulster said: “If decommissioning doesn’t happen the Stormont assembly will be forced into suspension. There is no point in Martin McGuinness saying he is working flat out for decommissioning unless tangible results are produced. Actual, credible and verifiable decommissioning by the IRA will bring confidence to the people and a hope of lasting peace for Northern Ireland.”

Anti Agreement Democratic Unionist leader Reverend Ian Paisley said in a hard hitting statement: “If any decommissioning is to take place then it must be seen to be done. Only if any decommissioning is genuinely verified will it satisfy the unionist population. Decommission must also be permanent. There must be no way back for the weapons and explosives to be recommissioned. Indeed if decommissioning is for real then it must be accompanied by the dismantling of the terrorist structures. There can no legitimate reason to keep the machinery of war intact.”

At the weekend Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness said he was working “flat out” to achieve IRA decommissioning.

SDLP Agriculture minister Bríd Rodgers has welcomed Mr McGuinness’s assertion but has maintained that only the IRA have it in their power to save the Agreement and the institutions from collapsing. (AMcE)