Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome colleagues back after the summer recess and look forward to a very vigorous and intense session between now and Christmas. Fine Gael unreservedly welcomes the statement this week by General de Chastelain of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning in respect of the decommissioning of IRA weapons. This is an historic development and is something we should all welcome. It has been a key aspect not only of every Government since the foundation of the State, but also a key aspect of the Good Friday Agreement, that the gun be taken out of Irish politics. We need to congratulate all concerned. The statement made yesterday by the Ulster Unionist Party also needs to be congratulated, as it has shown good leadership on this matter, unlike others. In the new segregationist politics of Sinn Féin and the DUP in Northern Ireland, it is often difficult for good authority to be recognised. I want to put on the record that the UUP did a great service to the peace process yesterday in unreservedly accepting the accounts of General de Chastelain and others.

There are other issues to be resolved and one of them is the motion that is before the House this evening, on which I would welcome all-party support. If the Government attempts to amend the motion, I understand that its representatives will discuss with me the substance of that amendment before the debate. Of course, should an amendment be put on the Order Paper, it will require the permission of the Cathaoirleach as no amendment is currently tabled. Clearly, there is a need to decommission the substantial criminal and financial arsenal which Sinn Féin and the IRA have generated as a result of ill-gotten gains and means over the past number of years. There will also be a need to demonstrate over a short period of time that the intimidation and abuse that some republicans hand out to members of their own community has stopped. Let us work to that end and ensure it is at the top of our political priorities as we go forward. Let us deliver the long sought for peace everyone needs.