Decommissioning legislation

NO DATE had been fixed for the publication of legislation on decommissioning, the Taoiseach said. He told the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, on the order of business, that the legislation was at an advanced stage and would be published reasonably soon". The Government wanted to take account of the views of all the parties at the Belfast talks. Mr Ahern said the timing of the legislation was critically important particularly in view of the remarks of the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, that even if there was an IRA ceasefire he would set preconditions.