Further clarification necessary

The Government has welcomed the clarification provided by Gerry Adams yesterday as “a positive and significant advance” on the previous clarifications but there is still a need for further clarification about the ending of all IRA activities that are inconsistent with the Good Friday agreement.

The Sinn Féin president responded to the three questions put by British Prime Minister Tony Blair last week.

In an address to party activists at Stormont, Mr Adams said the IRA has stated its willingness to put arms beyond use at the earliest opportunity and he emphasised that this does, indeed, mean “all arms”.