Good Friday, April 10th, 1998:
The Belfast Agreement is signed, committing all participants to disarmament and to using "any influence they may have" to bring it about within two years.
April 30th, 1998:
The IRA says: "There will be no decommissioning by the IRA."
August 30th, 1998:
An IRA statement in relation to decommissioning says: "We made our position absolutely clear on this in April. We stand by that statement."
April 1st, 1999:
Intensive talks at Hillsborough Castle fail to produce a deal that would allow for the appointment of the power-sharing Executive. The IRA's Easter statement, which many hoped would make concessions on decommissioning, makes no reference to it.
July 21st, 1999:
Another series of meetings at Stormont fails to reach agreement on decommissioning to allow an Executive to be set up. However, the IRA gives the first indication that there are conditions in which it might decommission.
November 16th, 1999:
A breakthrough allowing the establishment of the power-sharing executive follows a Sinn FΘin statement saying: "Sinn FΘin accepts that decommissioning is an essential part of the peace process . . . The context required for its resolution is the implementation of the overall settlement."
November 17th, 1999:
The IRA says it will "appoint a representative to enter into discussions with General John de Chastelain and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning".
November 27th, 1999:
The Ulster Unionist Council approves the establishment of the Executive but sets a February deadline for decommissioning.
December 2nd, 1999:
The power-sharing Executive is established. The IRA announces it has appointed a representative to enter discussion with the de Chastelain commission.
January 31st, 2000:
The IICD reports that while the IRA, UFF and UVF had held discussions with the commission, "to date we have received no information from the IRA as to when decommissioning will start".
February 11th, 2000:
Another report from the de Chastelain commission says there has been an "assertion made to us by the IRA representative that the IRA will consider how to put arms and explosives beyond use, in the context of the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement, and in the context of the removal of the causes of conflict".
Political institutions are suspended by the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, in the face of the imminent resignation of Mr David Trimble over the failure to make progress on decommissioning.
February 14th, 2000:
The IRA withdraws from co-operation with the commission amid republican claims that it had been about to offer a breakthrough deal.
May 5th, 2000:
Deal reached at Hillsborough Castle opening the way for the restoration of the institutions.
May 6th, 2000:
IRA statement holds open the prospect of initiating "a process that will completely and verifiably put IRA arms beyond use" if other commitments outlined the previous day, and in the Belfast Agreement, are honoured. These include the implementation of the Patten report on police reform; the taking of steps to reduce the British military presence; and dealing with matters relating to human rights, equality and justice.
The IRA also says it would allow the inspection - and subsequent re-inspection - of some arms dumps by third parties. Former Finnish prime minister Mr Martti Ahtisaari and former African National Congress general secretary Mr Cyril Ramaphosa are appointed as independent inspectors.
The IRA pledges to resume contact with the IICD. May 27th, 2000:
Mr Trimble wins the support of the Ulster Unionist Council by 53 per cent to 47 per cent.
May 30th, 2000:
Devolution to the institutions is restored.
June 26th, 2000:
IRA announces it has re-established contact with the commission and that "a number" of its dumps have been inspected.
October 26th, 2000:
The IRA announces that these dumps have been re-inspected.
December 5th, 2000:
The IRA details the commitments which it expects the British government to fulfil to create the "context" for a process of putting weapons beyond use. These include "the implementation of Patten; to progressively take all the necessary steps to demilitarise the situation; to deal with matters relating to human rights, equality and justice; to resolve issues which remain outstanding at this stage in the development of the peace process".
March 8th, 2001:
Further talks at Hillsborough fail to provide breakthrough on decommissioning and on the restoration of Sinn FΘin Ministers' attendance at North-South Ministerial Council meetings, which is being blocked by Mr Trimble. The IRA announces it has "decided to enter into further discussions with the IICD".
March 22nd, 2001:
De Chastelain report confirms the IRA's re-engagement with the IICD and that a meeting with the IRA representative has taken place.
May 8th, 2001:
Mr Trimble says he will resign as First Minister on July 1st if the IRA has not begun decommissioning by then.
May 30th, 2001:
The international inspectors, Mr Ahtisaari and Mr Ramaphosa, confirm they have carried out a third inspection of the arms dumps and that the weapons remain unused.
May 31st, 2001:
The IRA says it has met the decommissioning body four times since March. Mr Trimble points out: "What we have not seen is any progress on putting weapons beyond use."
July 14th, 2001:
Talks at Weston Park end with government officials sent away to draw up a package on policing, demilitarisation, the stability of the political institutions and decommissioning.
August 1st, 2001:
Irish and British governments publish proposals on police reform and demilitarisation designed to create the "context" sought by the IRA for decommissioning to take place.
August 6th 2001:
Commission says IRA has proposed a method to put its weapons beyond use. The IRA confirms this two days later.
August 7th, 2001:
Mr Trimble says IRA statement is not enough, and decommissioning must begin.
August 12th, 2001:
Assembly restored after one-day suspension by Northern Secretary Dr John Reid. This gives a further six-week period for agreement.
September 11th, 2001:
Terrorist attacks in the US put increased pressure on IRA to begin decommissioning.
September 23rd, 2001:
Assembly restored again after another one-day suspension.
October 2nd, 2001:
UUP tables motion to exclude Sinn FΘin from Executive because of IRA's failure to begin decommissioning.
October 8th, 2001:
UUP Ministers withdraw from Executive as exclusion motion is defeated.
October 22nd, 2001:
Mr Gerry Adams says he and Mr Martin McGuinness have asked the IRA to move on decommissioning.
October 23rd, 2001:
IRA says it has implemented proposal to put arms completely and verifiably beyond use.