Gerry Adams,"Decommissioning could transform the political situation in the North"
Martin McGuinness, In US for talks about deadlocked peace process
The Government has said that it was hopeful that there would be a significant gesture on the arms issue. This follows the speech by the Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, today.
In his speech, Mr Adams said that he and Martin McGuinness had told the IRA that a significant move on decommissioning could save the peace process from collapse. Mr McGuinness, Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, is in New York and also made a statement to reporters today.
Mr Adams said that a move significant move on decommissioning could transform the political situation in the North. The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, welcomed the speech.
Mr Ahern said that the statement was a positive and constructive development for the peace process but added that "we had to wait to see what the response would be".
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, said that Mr Adams' remarks were very encouraging. Dr Reid said that the speech was a highly significant statement from someone of Mr Adams' authority and stature within Republicanism.
The Government said that what was needed was a positive statement from General John de Chastelain over the next few days.
Mr Adams said that a positive IRA move on decommissioning must be responded to with generosity and vision. Earlier today, he met the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, and had talks with the Ulster Unionists and SDLP.
It remains to be seen whether there was enough in Mr Adams' speech to reassure Ulster Unionists about the intentions of Republicans. DUP leader Reverend Ian Paisley, who earlier led his members out of the Assembly, said that they would not be satisfied with the word of General de Chastelain on any move on decommissioning and he called on the IRA to surrender all its arms.
David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force, called on the IRA to state that its war is over. He said that everything the IRA had done up to now had been begrudging.
He also said that he had no evidence to suggest that Loyalists would make a reciprocal gesture on disarmament. Alliance Party leader, David Ford, welcomed Mr Adams' statement as an apparent indication of willingness on the part of republicans to move on decommissioning.
