Ahern Statement on loyalist decommissioning

In the light of the very welcome announcements made today by loyalist organisations about arms decommissioning, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D. has confirmed that, on behalf of the Irish Government, he has been kept fully briefed by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning on developments in relation to loyalist decommissioning. While any public comments about its work are a matter in the first instance for the IICD the Minister expects that he and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will receive a formal report from the IICD at an appropriate stage reflecting the positive developments which have taken place.

The Minister said that as the Minister under whose aegis the Decommissioning body operates in this jurisdiction it was only right that on behalf of the Irish Government he should place on record the Irish Government's great appreciation of their work.

Minister Ahern said: "General John de Chastelain, Brigadier Tauno Nieminem and Mr. Andy Sens have worked with great patience and skill to achieve the decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons in the North. While more remains to be done they have made progress on a scale many people believed was not possible. The people of this island will be forever in their debt."

27 June 2009