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04/09/2008
PM Pushes For 'Full' Devolution
The PM Gordon Brown has upped the ante substantially by telling Northern Ireland's politicians "they must complete the peace process now the IRA army council no longer operates".
His high profile comments last night come after the Independent Monitoring Commission's latest publication, which having monitored ceasefires, has found the IRA's army council "serves no function".
"I believe that this will provide reassurance and hope for everybody," said Mr Brown.
But, First Minister and DUP boss, Peter Robinson has said he wants assurances that the IRA so-called 'army council' will never meet again.
The DUP has insisted it will not budge until the circumstances are right. Sinn Fein has threatened to pull its Ministers out of the Stormont cabinet if progress is not made soon.
Mr Robinson said: "I believe essentially we have this issue to the line but perhaps not yet over the line.
"In my view, for the IMC to say that the army council is not meeting is a different thing to say that it is not in existence.
However, Gordon Brown said the announcement provided "reassurance and hope" and said: "In the next few days, I will use all my efforts to make sure that the devolution of policing and justice can go ahead and the final stages of the peace process will now be completed, to the better government of Northern Ireland and to the peace and prosperity of the people there."
In counterpoint to the unionist suspicion, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said this morning on BBC Radio Ulster that it was clear "the IRA left the stage some time ago".
"So, the issue of the IRA has been dealt with definitively - all concerns have been met (and) this issue is gone," he said.
"We now have to work together to make this partnership government work and to deliver for people on the many bread-and-butter issues that concern them at this time."
Mr Adams said his party would hold talks with the DUP today "to discuss outstanding issues".
See: Pressure On DUP As IMC Says IRA "No Longer Operates"
(BMcC/KMcA)
His high profile comments last night come after the Independent Monitoring Commission's latest publication, which having monitored ceasefires, has found the IRA's army council "serves no function".
"I believe that this will provide reassurance and hope for everybody," said Mr Brown.
But, First Minister and DUP boss, Peter Robinson has said he wants assurances that the IRA so-called 'army council' will never meet again.
The DUP has insisted it will not budge until the circumstances are right. Sinn Fein has threatened to pull its Ministers out of the Stormont cabinet if progress is not made soon.
Mr Robinson said: "I believe essentially we have this issue to the line but perhaps not yet over the line.
"In my view, for the IMC to say that the army council is not meeting is a different thing to say that it is not in existence.
However, Gordon Brown said the announcement provided "reassurance and hope" and said: "In the next few days, I will use all my efforts to make sure that the devolution of policing and justice can go ahead and the final stages of the peace process will now be completed, to the better government of Northern Ireland and to the peace and prosperity of the people there."
In counterpoint to the unionist suspicion, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said this morning on BBC Radio Ulster that it was clear "the IRA left the stage some time ago".
"So, the issue of the IRA has been dealt with definitively - all concerns have been met (and) this issue is gone," he said.
"We now have to work together to make this partnership government work and to deliver for people on the many bread-and-butter issues that concern them at this time."
Mr Adams said his party would hold talks with the DUP today "to discuss outstanding issues".
See: Pressure On DUP As IMC Says IRA "No Longer Operates"
(BMcC/KMcA)
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