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28/05/2003
Unionists call for clarification on RIR cuts
Senior Ulster Unionist Party representative, Michael McGimpsey has called for clarification from the Government over rumours that the Home Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) are to be phased out.
It was suggested on Tuesday that the three Northern Ireland-based units, with bases in Armagh, Omagh and Holywood, would be cut in a new deal to break the deadlock in the stalled political process.
Despite Ministry of Defence sources emphasising that no cuts will be made until the IRA declares its war is over, in a statement, Mr McGimpsey said if the report was accurate, it smacks at the Government "putting the cart before the horse".
He added: "According to the Secretary of State, implementation would be consistent with 'acts of completion'. There are no 'acts of completion'. We're not even off first base, and apparently the Government is contemplating lowering the defences.
"We need to know what the real situation is. Without the IRA making a statement that the conflict is over and getting rid of the arms dumps, there can't be any normalisation.
"That's why we need clarification. We need it now because we were assured by the Government in April that any normalisation plan that it would bring forward would not include the Home Service Battalions and is not, in fact, even mentioned in the annex to the Joint Declaration".
DUP Councillor Sammy Wilson also called on the Government to come clean on the future of the RIR. He said: “The NIO and Army are lying when they claim there are no plans to disband the RIR. I have seen documents which indicate the Army, NIO and MoD have been discussing the implications of normalisation proposals for a number of months, and that part of those discussions are about a “phased reduction of troops in the Royal Irish”.
"No amount of lying by the NIO or army can explain away or cover up the decisions which they have made regarding the RIR."
Last month's joint declaration by the British and Irish Governments outlined plans to reduce the number of troops in the province to 5,000.
If this is implemented it could mean the complete disbandment of the RIR's three home battalions.
(MB)
It was suggested on Tuesday that the three Northern Ireland-based units, with bases in Armagh, Omagh and Holywood, would be cut in a new deal to break the deadlock in the stalled political process.
Despite Ministry of Defence sources emphasising that no cuts will be made until the IRA declares its war is over, in a statement, Mr McGimpsey said if the report was accurate, it smacks at the Government "putting the cart before the horse".
He added: "According to the Secretary of State, implementation would be consistent with 'acts of completion'. There are no 'acts of completion'. We're not even off first base, and apparently the Government is contemplating lowering the defences.
"We need to know what the real situation is. Without the IRA making a statement that the conflict is over and getting rid of the arms dumps, there can't be any normalisation.
"That's why we need clarification. We need it now because we were assured by the Government in April that any normalisation plan that it would bring forward would not include the Home Service Battalions and is not, in fact, even mentioned in the annex to the Joint Declaration".
DUP Councillor Sammy Wilson also called on the Government to come clean on the future of the RIR. He said: “The NIO and Army are lying when they claim there are no plans to disband the RIR. I have seen documents which indicate the Army, NIO and MoD have been discussing the implications of normalisation proposals for a number of months, and that part of those discussions are about a “phased reduction of troops in the Royal Irish”.
"No amount of lying by the NIO or army can explain away or cover up the decisions which they have made regarding the RIR."
Last month's joint declaration by the British and Irish Governments outlined plans to reduce the number of troops in the province to 5,000.
If this is implemented it could mean the complete disbandment of the RIR's three home battalions.
(MB)
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Unionists react with anger at axing of 'home' RIR
Unionists have reacted with anger at the news that two home battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) are to be disbanded as part of its 'normalisation' programme in response to last week's IRA statement.
Unionists react with anger at axing of 'home' RIR
Unionists have reacted with anger at the news that two home battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) are to be disbanded as part of its 'normalisation' programme in response to last week's IRA statement.
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