Written Answers. - Firearms Amnesty.
Austin Deasy
Question:
16
Mr. Deasy
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he will consider a firearms amnesty to collect illegally held weapons, including those held by paramilitaries and former paramilitaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6793/98]
This matter is being pursued in the context of multiparty talks in Northern Ireland and the provisions made in the Decommissioning Act, 1997.
The 1997 Act, as the Deputy will be aware, was intended to enable effect to be given to the recommendations of the International Body chaired by Senator George Mitchell on the decommissioning of illegally held arms. To that end it makes provision, in accordance with the recommendations of the International Body, for an amnesty and a prohibition on forensic testing in relation to decommissioned arms.
The Act also made provision for a commission to be established pursuant to agreement between the Government and the British Government. The establishment of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning by the Government and the British Government in September last was in keeping with the Act and with decisions taken in the context of the Northern Ireland talks. The commission, whose members are General John de Chastelain of Canada, Brigadier Tauno Niemenen of Finland and Ambassador Donald C. Johnson of the United States, have taken forward the mandate set out in the agreement providing for its establishment and have made considerable progress in the period since September.
The commission, pursuant to that mandate, presented proposals to the Governments earlier this year for decommissioning schemes on the basis of consultations they had with the Governments and other participants in the Northern Ireland Talks. Those proposals have formed the basis for the preparation of regulations, which will be made under the Decommissioning Act 1997, to provide for the decommissioning of illegally held arms held by or on behalf of paramilitary organisations. The Government has, in accordance with the terms of reference of the Talks Liaison Sub-Committee on Decommissioning, made those regulations available to the participants in the Northern Ireland Talks in draft form. The British Government has similarly made available the draft schemes which it proposes to make in accordance with the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act, 1997, to the talks participants. I have also arranged for a copy of the draft regulations to be placed in the Oireachtas Library.
The Government, as the Deputy will be aware, sees a resolution of the decommissioning issue as an indispensable part of the current process of negotiations within the framework of the multiparty talks in Northern Ireland. I believe that the considerable progress made to date can and will facilitiate that outcome.
