Madam, - It becomes apparent in the unfolding of the IRA decommissioning process that the significance of this act is not fully understood by several media and many individuals with an apparent vested interest in the peace process.
There is no circumstance - be it photographic evidence, a publicly scrutinised arms inventory or otherwise - that could ensure the "incontrovertible totality" of the decommissioning of the IRA arsenal. That arms may be found in the possession of known or suspected IRA members remains possible, but this would not undermine the import of decommissioning itself.
This act is the final gesture in the relinquishment of the IRA's will and capacity to carry out either guerrilla war or organised criminal acts. As such, if criminal or paramilitary acts take place in the future they will be committed without the mandate of the Provisional IRA and consequently will be subject to conventional criminal jurisdiction without any pretence of political legitimacy.
The incontrovertible corollary is that in future violent activity will not be perceived by any faction of the Northern communities as being a legitimate act of warfare under the aegis of the Republican movement.
This is a vital step towards marginalising criminal violence, as is the norm in a peaceful democratic state.
I hope that all interests in the North capitalise on this step towards normality and progress in peaceful political endeavours. - Yours, etc,
MARK WHIRDY, Dublin 8.
Madam, - Thank goodness for Ed Maloney's astute article (Opinion & Analysis) and a wisely cautious Editorial to balance yesterday's Gadarene stampede, led by the Taoiseach, to take the IRA at its word and assume that the Belfast Agreement is alive and well and ready to get back on the road.
Certainly a great quantity of IRA arms has been "decommissioned" - which is, however belated, excellent news. But never mind sceptical unionists, what are the rest of us to make of the way it has been done, and the way it has been verified?
We have two clergymen telling us they are completely independent eyewitnesses who saw everything on our behalf. But they cannot tell us what they saw, where they saw it, or when they saw it. Nor can they tell us how they were selected for the role, nor by whom. They assure us they were not appointed by the IRA, but do they really expect us to believe that the assent of the IRA was not the crucial factor in their selection?
Gen de Chastelain may have been more assured than on his last outing, but he was far from reassuring. In discharging his role he seems to have been more concerned with ensuring that the IRA was not humiliated, and that no one suggested it had surrendered its arms or that it had been defeated, than he was with presenting convincing evidence that the deed had been done.
What was clear from his press conference was that the script had been written by the IRA, ably assisted by two supine governments. Not the way to inspire confidence or promote trust. - Yours, etc,
DENNIS KENNEDY, Belfast 7.
Madam, - One has to have sympathy with those who are not yet sure they can accept that the IRA war is over. I get the sense that many want to believe it but at the same time don't want to be proved wrong. So for these people, time is required and they are entitled to that time.
I'm afraid I cannot put Ian Paisley in that group. Listening to him and reading what he has said since yesterday convinces me that he does not want the republican gun out of Irish politics. It would seem to suit his agenda to have it there and to constantly point to it as the reason for his refusal to share power and advance the political and democratic wish of the people.
If he accepts that the gun is gone then he has no excuse and the spotlight falls on him and on his party. Does he have the leadership ability to take Northern Ireland into a peaceful existence? Or is he, as many of us suspect, just good at saying, "No"? Dr Paisley is being tested as never before and right now he is coming up a good deal short. - Yours, etc,
T GERARD BENNETT, Templeroan Park, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.
Madam, - We have assurances of complete decommissioning by Provisional Sinn Féin/IRA, yet Gerry Adams continues to deny ever having been a member of the Provisional IRA.
Surely, honesty and transparency are essential if unionists/loyalists are to be convinced of the bona fides of the Provisional movement. Gerry, the truth! Please! - Yours, etc,
DAVID GRIFFIN, Magherally, Co Down.
Madam, - Perhaps Gen John de Chastelain could now be induced to use his decommissioning expertise to solve an impending explosive situation here in the South.
Faced with a nightly barrage of explosions over the next two months, and the Government's failure to address this annual orgy of ear-splitting noise, I wonder if we could persuade the good general to tackle the problem of decommissioning illegal fireworks.
If successful, he would have the sincere gratitude of all who have to endure this brainless bombardment year after year. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL K POWER, Sandyford Road, Dublin 16.
Madam, - How about decommisioning Ian Paisley? - Yours, etc,
NOEL CLARKE, Athlone, Co Westmeath.