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Decommissioning

In September 1997, the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) was established by treaty between the British and Irish Governments to oversee the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons. Legislative provisions in force in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland ensure immunity from prosecution applies in the case of individuals handling illegal arms for the purpose of decommissioning them.

The 1998 Belfast Agreement committed all participants to the total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations. The participants also confirmed their intention to continue to work constructively and in good faith with the IICD and to use any influence they may have to achieve the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms within 2 years of the referendum in May 1998 and in the context of the implementation of the overall settlement. This target has passed, but progress has been made.

The first act of decommissioning under the scheme was witnessed by the IICD in December 1998, when it reported that the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) had decommissioned a quantity of arms.

The IICD has witnessed four acts of decommissioning by the Provisional IRA.  In October 2001, the IICD reported that it had witnessed an event, which it regarded as significant, in which a quantity of arms had been put beyond use.  In 2002, the IICD reported that it had witnessed an event in which the IRA leadership had put a varied and substantial quantity of ammunition, arms and explosive material beyond use.  In October 2003, the IICD witnessed the third act of IRA decommissioning, which saw arms of light, medium and heavy ordnance and associated munitions put beyond use in accordance with the Governments’ Scheme and Regulations.

On 28 July 2005, the Provisional IRA issued a statement that “all volunteers have been instructed to assist in the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means”.  In September 2005 the IICD reported that it and independent witnesses had “determined that the IRA has met its commitment to put all its arms beyond use in a manner called for by the legislation”. The subsequent IICD report of February 2006 reaffirmed this assessment.

In accordance with the Governments’ Scheme and Regulations, the IICD has made an inventory of the arms concerned and will present it to the two Governments when the task is complete.  The IICD continues to work towards the decommissioning of the arms of loyalist paramilitary groups.  

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