HL Deb 24 September 2002 vol 638 c262WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the statement by the Lord Privy Seal on 24 July concerning Northern Ireland (HL Deb, col. 406), why they believe that the IRA has never been further from a return to its campaign. [HL5662]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Government believe that the leadership of the Provisional movement is committed to pursuing its objectives through a democratic, political process and understand that that is wholly incompatible with a return to a terrorist campaign.