Paisley says impending IRA statement will be 'meaningless'

Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley has rejected the significance of an impending IRA statement on the paramilitary group's future intentions.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has called on the organisation to end its armed struggle and commit itself to exclusively peaceful means.

The IRA has begun an internal debate on the matter and is expected to respond to Mr Adams' call before the end of the summer.

The Irish and British Governments are hoping a positive response could prompt the DUP to change its stance on refusing to share power with Sinn Féin.

However, speaking after talks with the Taoiseach in London today, Dr Paisley said anything the IRA says is "meaningless".

He said the DUP could not be expected to share power with Sinn Féin when all of the Irish political parties were refusing to even consider the party as coalition partners.