An opinion poll carried out in the North shows that the vast majority of voters want the IRA to put its weapons beyond use. In this week's An Phoblacht, the IRA said that it intends to re-engage with the International Decommissioning Body.
But according an opinion poll carried out by RTÉ and the Irish Times, most voters in the North think the IRA has to go further. Eighty-five per cent want to see the IRA decommission right away. Among Sinn Féin voters, 46% agree, and 44% are against.
Last month, the IRA said it had agreed a mechanism to put arms beyond use. Eighty-two per cent of Sinn Féin voters and 62% of SDLP supporters think that this is enough to maintain the North's political institutions.
There is considerably more scepticism among Unionist voters. Eighty-three per cent say the IRA has not done enough to keep the Stormont Executive up and running.
On the issue of policing, a majority of voters (75%) said that Catholics should now join the new police service of Northern Ireland, although most Sinn Féin supporters were against.
