Govts welcome positive assessment of IRA ceasefire
The Irish and British governments have welcomed the latest report from the body set up to monitor paramilitary ceasefires in the North.
The report from the Independent Monitoring Commission, published earlier today, says the IRA is genuine in its commitment to ending paramilitarism and criminality.
It says there is no evidence of any activity by the organisation in recent months, including training, recruitment and intelligence-gathering.
In a statement issued afterwards, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the progress outlined in the report would help to create the environment for restoring the political institutions in the North.
The Taoiseach, meanwhile, told the Dáil that the positive assessment was welcome.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Northern Secretary Peter Hain also said it should help to rebuild the trust and confidence needed to get the power-sharing Executive up and running again.
However, unionists are already playing down the significance of the document and are rejecting the conclusion that the IRA is committed to peace.
Ulster Unionist leader Reg Empey said the report represented progress, but he added that republicans had failed to return the money they allegedly stole from the Northern Bank more than a year ago.
The DUP has yet to respond, but it has already accused the Irish and British Governments of trying to play up the significance of the assessment, saying people will make their own judgements based on the facts on the ground.
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