Press Releases and Statements
I am very pleased to have this opportunity to address the House on recent developments in the peace process.
I do so, not in a spirit of elation, but fully conscious of the long and difficult history of our island and the enormous burden placed upon it and our people in recent decades by the threat and use of physical force by the Provisional IRA.
Finally, after many false starts, the IRA have yielded to the will of the people, as expressed in the Referendum on the Good Friday Agreement.
Today is a momentous day for the people of this island, North and South.
Finally, after many false starts, the IRA yielded to their will, as expressed in the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement.
They have given up their weapons to pursue their aims by exclusively peaceful means.
The two Governments have today received a report from the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD).
The report states that the IICD has overseen a further and final major programme of arms decommissioning by the IRA. It is the IICD’s assessment, based on the information available to it and the two Governments, that the IRA has now placed all of its arms completely and verifiably beyond use.
An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD, Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Michael McDowell TD, Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform, will meet with a Sinn Fein delegation at 12 mid-day on Friday 23rd September 2005
The Taoiseach is visiting the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador at the invitation of the Premier, Danny Williams who himself visited Ireland in July 2004.
The Taoiseach took the opportunity to again convey the sympathies of the Government and the Irish people for the horrific tragedy arising from Hurricane Katrina.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern TD, will today, Monday, meet with the US Special Envoy on Northern Ireland Mr Mitchell Reiss.
We welcome today's developments concerning the IRA.
The end of the IRA as a paramilitary organisation is the outcome the Governments have been working towards since the cessation of military activity in 1994. We acknowledge the significance of the IRA statement. Both Governments are hopeful that the practical elements of this statement will be implemented in the terms set out. If the IRA’s words are borne out by actions, it will be a momentous and historic development.
Today's developments can herald a new era for all of the people on the island of Ireland.
I welcome the commitment by the IRA to end its armed campaign, to complete the process of decommissioning and to use exclusively peaceful means.
The Taoiseach will today attend the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Downing Street. This is the first meeting of the BIIGC at the level of Taoiseach and Prime Minister since 1999 and is the first comprehensive engagement between the two Governments on Northern Ireland since the British General election in May.