The Government has repeatedly made clear the importance it attaches to progress in removing the stocks of weapons held by para-militaries. Dealing with the paramilitary arsenals is clearly an essential element in the peace process and crucial to the achievement of a lasting peace. As I stated in the House on 4 April, it is impossible to envisage a lasting peace without the objective of the removal of paramilitary arms having been achieved. This approach underlies the position taken by Government representatives, both publicly and in all relevant private contacts on this issue.
The Government welcomes the fact that there is general agreement with its view that this is one of the key issues which must be addressed and that it is now under serious discussion in the meetings which both Sinn Féin and loyalist representatives are having with British Ministers.
We hope these discussions will be productive and will significantly advance the prospect of a satisfactory solution. We will be seeking to avail to the fullest extent possible of our contacts and influence to promote this objective.
However, as the Taoiseach and I have emphasised, the peace process is not a single issue agenda and progress in any one area is more likely in the context of movement on a range of issues. The objective of permanent peace will be achieved only by a co-ordinated process which involves movement on all sides.
My own and the Government's position in this regard has been quite consistent. I stated to the Dáil on 1 June 1994 that the definitive abandonment of the use or support of violence for political ends would open the way to participation in political talks and to a role in the shaping of an agreed future for the Irish people and that it was also a pre-condition for participation in the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation.
I also stated on 1 June that the manner in which a permanent end to violence could be established and verified and the other practical consequences of a permanent cessation of violence would be matters for decision at a later stage in the light of circumstances.
Since 1 June there has been an unprecedented change of circumstances. The ceasefires have changed the situation dramatically. We must not ignore or undervalue the crucial importance of the continued silence of the guns, even if there is a further stage — the actual decommissioning of weapons on all sides — which has yet to be attained.
It is important to avoid a circular argument whether prior decommissioning is the condition for political progress, or political progress for decommissioning. As a political reality, neither issue is likely to be fully resolved in isolation from the other. As the Taoiseach stated in the House on 25 April, "Without progress on the arms issue there will not be progress on other issues. Equally, for there to be progress on the arms issue there are many other issues on which there must be progress".
I hope that the serious discussion which has now begun on decommissioning will be paralleled by serious discussion of the various political issues which are the particular responsibility of political leaders, and which are equally necessary for a resolution of the problem.
Our task is to build momentum by developing progress across the entire agenda which must be addressed. We will continue to press for this, both in regard to the overarching goal of launching comprehensive political negotiations and on the specific issue of decommissioning of paramilitary arsenals.