This is the full text of the report of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning to the British and Irish Governments, issued shortly before 8pm last night:
To the Rt Hon John Reid MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Belfast and to Mr John O'Donoghue, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dublin.
1. On August 6 2001, the Commission reported that agreement had been reached with the IRA on a method to put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use. This would be done in such a way as to involve no risk to the public and avoid the possibility of misappropriation by others.
2. We have now witnessed an event - which we regard as significant - in which the IRA has put a quantity of arms completely beyond use. The material in question includes arms, ammunition and explosives.
3. We are satisfied that the arms in question have been dealt with in accordance with the scheme and regulations. We are also satisfied that it would not further the process of putting all arms beyond use were we to provide further details of this event.
4. We will continue our contact with the IRA representative in the pursuit of our mandate.
Signed -
Tauno Nieminen, John de Chastelain and Andrew D Sens.
The statement issued by the IRA at 5pm yesterday said:
The IRA is committed to our republican objectives and to the establishment of a united Ireland based on justice, equality and freedom.
In August l994, against a background of lengthy and intensive discussions involving the two governments and others, the leadership of the IRA called a complete cessation of military operations in order to create the dynamic for a peace process.
'Decommissioning' was no part of that. There was no ambiguity about this.
Unfortunately there are those within the British establishment and the leadership of unionism who are fundamentally opposed to change. At every opportunity they have used the issue of arms as an excuse to undermine and frustrate progress.
It is for this reason that decommissioning was introduced to the process by the British Government. It has been used since to prevent the changes that a lasting peace requires.
In order to overcome this and to encourage the changes necessary for a lasting peace, the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA) has taken a number of substantial initiatives.
These include our engagement with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning) and the inspection of a number of arms dumps by the two international inspectors, Cyril Ramaphosa and Martti Ahtisaari.
No one should doubt the difficulties these initiatives cause for us, our volunteers and our supporters.
The political process is now on the point of collapse. Such a collapse would certainly, and eventually, put the overall peace process in jeopardy.
There is a responsibility upon everyone seriously committed to a just peace to do our best to avoid this.
Therefore, in order to save the peace process, we have implemented the scheme agreed with the IICD in August.
Our motivation is clear. This unprecedented move is to save the peace process and to persuade others of our genuine intentions.
Signed: P O'Neill.
The following is the text of the IRA's statement, issued to An Phoblacht on August 8th, in which the IRA referred to agreeing a scheme with the IICD:
"On 8 March 2001 the IRA leadership re-established contact with the IICD, the Independent International Commission on Disarmament. Since then the IRA representative has met with the IICD eight times.
"As a result of these discussions we can confirm that the IRA leadership has agreed a scheme with the IICD which will put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use.
"We note the ongoing attempts in some quarters to prevent progress. They should not be permitted to succeed. Our representative will continue to meet with the IICD. The IRA leadership will continue to monitor political developments."
The report of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, issued on August 6th this year said, in full:
"In a recent meeting with the Commission, the IRA representative proposed a method for putting IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use.
"We are satisfied that this proposal meets the Commission's remit in accordance with the Governments' scheme and regulations.
"Based on our discussions with the IRA representative, we believe that this proposal initiates a process that will put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use."