Republican News · Thursday 25 October 2001

IICD Statement

The following is the text of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning's report to Secretary of State John Reid and 26-County Minister for Justice John O'Donoghue on Tuesday, 23 October.

"1. On 6 August 2001, the Commission reported that agreement had been reached with the IRA on a method to put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use. This would be done in such a way as to involve no risk to the public and avoid the possibility of misappropriation by others.

2. We have now witnessed an event - which we regard as significant - in which the IRA has put a quantity of arms completely beyond use. The material in question includes arms, ammunition and explosives.

3. We are satisfied that the arms in question have been dealt with in accorance with the scheme and regulations. We are also satisfied that it would not further the process of putting all arms beyond use were we to provide further details of this event.

4. We will continue our contact with the IRA representative in the pursuit of our mandate.

Signed: Tauno Nieminen, John de Chastelain and Andrew D Sens.