Taoiseach welcomes 'landmark' IRA statement

An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today was a momentous day for the people of Ireland, north and south.

“The IICD statement that the IRA has met its commitments to put all its arms beyond use is of enormous consequence,” he said.

“It’s a landmark development, it’s of real historic significance, the weapons of the IRA have gone and they’re gone in a manner which has been witnessed and verified.

“Many believed that this day would never come. Many would say that this should have happened a long time ago but it has now come about.

“We are enormously relieved that we can finally close this difficult chapter of the peace process.”

Mr Ahern added that he had devoted 10 years of his life to the ongoing search for peace in Northern Ireland.

“Many people have suffered at the hands of these (IRA) weapons, the suffering should never have happened,” he said.

“If today’s developments mean anything, they mean that no future generations would suffer this pain and loss.

“We cannot forget our sad and tragic past, we cannot undo damage done but we must now also look forward with renewed hope and promise, particularly we must look to the day when loyalist weapons are removed from the equation.

“We have a duty to work now to build a better Ireland, an Ireland that is a warm home for everyone who lives here.

“I promise that the Irish Government will uphold the Good Friday Agreement we’ve worked so hard to do these last eight years.

“We want to see its full implementation, there’s no going back to the bad old days.”