Statement by Ms Liz O'Donnell, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, on Status of IRA Ceasefire
Responding to today's statement by the Secretary of State, Dr Mo Mowlam, the Government stated that they fully share and support her assessment that, in terms of an overall judgement, the IRA ceasefire has not broken down. The Government have been in close and ongoing contact with the Secretary of State on the issue.
In view of the implications for possible future court proceedings, the Government do not wish to comment in detail on specific incidents. We wish to make clear, however, that we deplore and condemn each and every act of violence. All such acts are utterly unacceptable and that view has been conveyed in the strongest terms to all with influence on paramilitary organisations.
In close consultation with the British Government, we will continue to monitor the ceasefires of the paramilitary organisations. It continues to be our belief that the most effective means of ensuring that all acts of violence are put behind us for good is through the consolidation of the political process and, in particular, through the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. It is essential that we move forward now with resolving the outstanding difficulties in this regard and we will be working closely to this end with the British Government, the parties and Senator George Mitchell in the Review process over the coming weeks.
