Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 5

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

118 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfied himself that all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that arms or explosives decommissioned in this jurisdiction in accordance with the Decommissioning Act, 1997, do not pose a threat to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27647/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The regulations on decommissioning, made under the Decommissioning Act, 1997, provide for the putting in place by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning of conditions in relation to the decommissioning of arms on grounds of public safety.

In its report of 23 October 2001, on the act of decommissioning by the IRA, the commission stated:

On 6 August 2001 the commission reported that agreement had been reached with the IRA on a method to put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use. This would be done in such a way as to involve no risk to the public and avoid the possibility of misappropriation by others. We have now witnessed an event – which we regard as significant – in which the IRA has put a quantity of arms completely beyond use. . . . We are satisfied that the arms in question have been dealt with in accordance with the scheme and regulations.