§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement about decommissioning of illegally held arms in Northern Ireland. [111405]
§ Mr. IngramThere is no doubt that we have experienced a number of setbacks in recent weeks. However, the maintenance of the IRA cease-fire, as General de Chastelain has acknowledged, represents an important step and has contributed greatly to the peace process. It is important that we build upon that.
General de Chastelain's last report gave some grounds for optimism, but it is imperative that we have clarity on the issue of decommissioning before we can restore 405W devolved government in Northern Ireland. We are all agreed that the Good Friday Agreement has to be implemented in full. The obligations on all sides have not changed.
Our priority is to work together with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland parties to restore the institutions quickly, and to see that decommissioning begins as soon as possible. What we all need to do now, after recent disappointments, is to move on together without any recrimination and without any precondition. What is important is that substantive progress is made now. The next step is to decommission weapons, and that must happen soon.