The following is the text of the IRA statement issued yesterday morning:
On May 6th the leadership of the IRA announced an unprecedented initiative which had the effect of breaking the impasse at that time in the peace process. In our statements we made it clear that our initiative was in the context of a series of commitments made by the two governments, especially the British government.
We announced that we would: - Resume contact with the IICD (Independent International Commission on Decommissioning), and - Put in place a confidence-building measure.
We now wish to confirm that we have re-established contact with the IICD, and that a number of arms dumps have been examined by the two agreed parties.
These dumps contained a substantial amount of material including weapons, explosives and other equipment.
The leadership of the IRA have consistently sought to enhance the peace process. This initiative demonstrates once more our commitment to securing a just and lasting peace.