Adams pledge is as good as it gets

THE pledge by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams that the IRA will carry out “no activities” that will undermine the Good Friday peace agreement in any way is yet another important milestone on the rocky road towards a peaceful democratic society in Northern Ireland.

On the face of it, the implication is that all paramilitary activity will now be ended. Given the status that Mr Adams commands in the republican movement, this seems to be as good as it gets.

But while there is a marked difference between the wording of yesterday’s statement and last Sunday’s comments from the Sinn Féin leader about future IRA activities, the British and Irish governments want even greater clarity about the intentions of the paramilitary wing of republicanism.