Decommissioning has been acknowledged to be essential. It has been left to the last.

- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern

The decommissioning of weapons has been part of the talks process, and of the agreement arising from it, from the very beginning. Decommissioning will be voluntary in all cases but also it must occur if the agreement is to be fulfilled.

- The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton

There have been many dark days in Northern Ireland over the past three decades . . . we, too, have experienced terrible incidents . . . the people of Britain suffered terribly. We can all now dare to hope for a better future.

- The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn

I want to simply say this to the small number of people who might be tempted to use violence to thwart the will of the vast majority of the people of this island: the full resources of the State will be used against you and you will not succeed.

- The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue

It would be totally unthinkable in our Republic for a party, so inextricably linked with a terrorist organisation, to gain participation in a coalition.

- Mr Charles Flanagan (FG)