The Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice have both welcomed today's comments by the Independent Monitoring Commission about the improved security environment in the Northern Ireland.
Bertie Ahern said the security situation in Northern Ireland was becoming progressively normalized and the assessment on the IRA continued to be positive.
In a report issued this afternoon, the IMC said the British government is keeping its commitments about security normalization.
The commitments involve cutting troop numbers and closing security installations over a two-year period ending next July.
The IMC report concluded that the British government is on target to honour its pledges.
The IMC also commented on the improved security situation and said it remains of the firm view that the IRA is committed to following a political path.
It also said the IRA's command and control structure may be helping to drive this change.
The IMC's more detailed analysis on all paramilitaries, including the IRA, will come next month.
Immediately after it Mr Ahern and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will host make or break talks with the Northern Ireland parties about restoring devolved government.
The IMC's views will have a role in those discussions.
