Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomes INLA decommissioning

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin T.D., welcomed today’s statement by the Irish National Liberation Army confirming that, under the auspices of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD), it has put its weapons beyond use.

The Minister said:

“I welcome the fact that INLA weapons have been put beyond use.

This act of decommissioning reinforces the developing consensus that the route to a better future is through the exercise of peaceful politics, based on the rule of law, mutual respect, equality and tolerance. These principles are inclusive and do not leave any constituency behind.

I would like to express the Government’s appreciation to all those who facilitated this decision, especially ICTU, Creggan Enterprises and the Dialogue Advisory Group. I would also like to pay tribute to General de Chastelain and the members of the IICD, for their tremendous work over many years in underpinning peace on this island.”