The British government is to name an independent paramilitary ceasefire monitor, probably as early as next week, despite vociferous IRA opposition.
The move follows a spate of meetings between the political parties, the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair.
Dr Reid who, along with Mr Blair, held talks with Mr David Trimble at Downing Street yesterday, confirmed the measure, which was first floated in July. But he insisted that the final political decision on the validity of a ceasefire would remain with him.
"This is a matter of someone to monitor violence in Northern Ireland, to make sure that people can have those questions answered," he said.
The idea of a monitor for paramilitary violence was raised initially by the Alliance Party but has been seized with enthusiasm by unionists in general and by Mr Trimble in particular.
Mr Trimble faces another meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council on September 21st and it is thought that enactment of the monitor proposal could help him to bolster confidence among his worried party colleagues.
Ulster Unionists, wary of falling confidence in the Belfast Agreement among its constituency, are mindful of next May's Assembly elections and accusations that they are sharing power with Sinn Féin amid allegations of breaches in the IRA cessation. Some feel that Dr Reid is turning a blind eye to alleged IRA activity for political purposes. The opinion of an independent auditor could help to ease unionist concerns in this regard.
The SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, voicing opposition to the proposal yesterday, questioned its value and suggested an alternative. Speaking after meeting Gen John de Chastelain, the head of the international decommissioning body, he called on the British government to maintain a public register of paramilitary violence instead.
The Government is understood to be cool on the idea but will accept it since the final ceasefire arbiter will be Dr Reid.
The IRA and Sinn Féin oppose the move. In an interview with an IRA figure published in yesterday's edition of An Phoblacht, the Provisionals again accused the British government of caving in to unionist demands.
"It is important to understand that sections of the British military and its intelligence agencies, including the Special Branch, are still at war. They have always sought to create tensions, divisions and splits in republican ranks. They are opposed to the peace process," the IRA said.
It repeated denials of involvement in Colombia or in the intelligence robbery at Castlereagh and insisted that its cessation was intact.
Details of the remit of a ceasefire auditor have still to emerge, a point touched upon by both Mr Trimble and the US special envoy, Mr Richard Haass. Mr Trimble said it was essential that someone with the "necessary skills and integrity and independence" was found and that they worked under the appropriate terms of reference.
Mr Haass, who had a series of meetings with the political parties and the Chief Constable, Mr Hugh Orde, agreed. Speaking in Belfast yesterday, he said: "It's not simply whether one appoints an auditor, but . . . the devil or the angel is in the details. There's the question of exactly what are the terms of reference, what's the writ of an auditor? What is he or she responsible for? What authority does he or she have?"
Mr Haass had separate meetings with the SDLP and Sinn Féin last night and he is due to meet the Ulster Unionists this morning.
The First Minister yesterday emphasised his positive view of a ceasefire monitor's role. Speaking in Downing Street, he said that an auditor would act as a "very strong spotlight" to remove doubts and allegations of "cover-up, gloss and spin" concerning the British government's assessment of paramilitary ceasefires.