A DUP motion demanding the handing over of all paramilitary weapons and describing token decommissioning as unacceptable has passed the Northern Ireland Assembly as a result of united voting by the unionist block in the chamber.
An amendment to the motion tabled by the SDLP stressing the importance of the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement, including decommissioning, and the agreement reached during the Mitchell review was defeated by 45 votes to 43 in a recorded vote.
Proposing the motion, the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said he believed the IRA had no intention of decommissioning arms and claimed the people of Northern Ireland were "sick of being misled and lied to over the issue".
He said Sinn Fein had succeeded in securing its places in the Executive "without a shred of evidence" that decommissioning would take place and he predicted there would be "no punitive action against the IRA when it fails to decommission".
Dr Paisley was critical of Mr David Trimble, who he said had pledged to end talks in June 1996 if decommissioning did not be gin. "Since then the leader of the Official Unionists has twisted, turned, digressed, avoided dealing genuinely with this issue while the IRA has held to its position and held on to its arsenal."
Mr Eddie McGrady (SDLP, South Down) said the DUP was attempting to achieve party political advantage by tabling the motion even at the risk of sacrificing the actuality of decommissioning. "I have no objection to any number of motions being tabled but what I am entitled to do is address the motivation behind them. Are they effective or are they simply a panacea to create an impression of real political movement because the DUP have really failed, failed to prevent the creation of the powersharing Executive?" he asked. He said his amendment sought to address the question of decommissioning on the basis of the agreement already reached by the pro-agreement parties and asked members to wait for the report from Gen John de Chastelain's independent commission, expected at the end of this month.
In a debate on the motion, Mr Duncan Shipley-Dalton (UUP, South Antrim) described the DUP as "catalysts for aggression" but admitted there was no more room for compromise from the UUP over the arms issue.
He did not care what form decommissioning took but he could not support the continuation of the institutions if decommissioning did not occur by the end of this month. He said he was speaking "as one of the most liberal members" of the UUP.
"I have to make it clear to people on the other side of the house the strength of feeling amongst the unionist community on this matter," said Mr Shipley-Dalton. "It is up to the IRA whether they want to see these institutions survive."
Mr Alex Maskey (SF, West Belfast), said he identified with Mr Shipley-Dalton's concerns but stressed his comments had been "contrary to what his party agreed during the Mitchell review".
Mr Francie Molloy, (SF, Mid Ulster) said it was not within the remit of the Assembly to demand anything. He said the UUP had wasted time by setting deadlines and making demands. "When decommissioning happens it will be a voluntary act. It will not come about by demand or force."
The debate was ended due to time constraints. The leader of the UK Unionist Party, Mr Robert McCartney, said there was "small purpose" in members being in the chamber if they were not allowed to make a contribution.