DUP demand Blair push on IRA
The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party has demanded assurances from the Prime Minister that the IRA will verifiably and completely disarm its weapons.
Dr Ian Paisley, North Antrim MP, said it was necessary for the IRA to show its intent on weapons decommissioning.
His comments come ahead of the publication of a second report by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, led by General John de Chastelain on Thursday.
Sinn Fein insists devolution must operate within the parameters of the Good Friday Agreement. They have accused the DUP of wishing to re-write the historic agreement.
On Monday, Mr Blair and his Irish counterpart, Bertie Ahern, met to discuss how to kickstart devolution in Northern Ireland.
Dr Paisley said the IRA would have to move on comprehensive arms decommissioning before devolved government at Stormont could be restored.
Devolved government was suspended two years ago amid allegations of an IRA spy-ring at the Northern Ireland Office.
He said the DUP, the province’s largest unionist party, was not in the business of accepting a “fudge” on decommissioning.
“Within the next few days Mr Blair has to prove to the law abiding citizens of Northern Ireland that he is going to keep his promise about the entire decommissioning of all the IRA-Sinn Fein terrorist weaponry and that putting beyond use of these weapons will be done in a way that will satisfy everyone,” Mr Paisley said.
“It must be totally transparent and visible to the people whose lives are threatened by these weapons.
“From the outset of negotiations, the DUP has made it clear that there can be no fudge on this issue.”
Dr Paisley said he now looked to Mr Blair to break new ground on the issue.
“It is now over to Mr Blair. He can keep his word and rid us of the IRA murder gang or he can produce yet another fudge, thus giving the IRA the victory they are demanding.”
