The prospect of lasting peace and inclusive, stable political institutions, held out to the people of this island by the Belfast Agreement five years ago, is within touching distance. Yesterday's statement by the IRA, communicated through the Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, replied to the question posed by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, about its future intentions.
And while the IRA did not specifically list activities like punishment beatings, targeting and weapons procurement in its reply, it ruled out all future paramilitary activities that could damage the peace process and the Belfast Agreement in any way. Such an undertaking is a considerable advance, in spite of the lack of specifics in the language used.
Republicans have been masters of interpretation and obfuscation over the past five years. In this instance, however, any undertaking given can be subjected to review by an independent monitoring board, established under a Joint Declaration drawn up by the two Governments. Should the IRA breach its undertaking and revert to paramilitary activities, Sinn Féin could be held to account in any future Executive and suffer disciplinary action. This new mechanism should oblige the IRA to do a signal service to Sinn Féin by providing the additional clarity being sought by the two Governments. Its unwillingness to accept a formula of words suggested by others is well established but, in this case, republicans have everything to gain by removing any remaining ambiguity.
The Government described the statement as "a further helpful contribution". But it agreed with Mr Blair on the need for greater transparency. For the past six months, the Governments and the pro-Agreement parties have discussed "acts of completion" involving decommissioning, demilitarisation, policing and the security of the various institutions. There has been considerable progress. And intensive contacts continued overnight in an effort to secure a final breakthrough.
The face of republicanism is changing. Following an earlier undertaking to put all its weapons beyond use and to acknowledge the basis for the complete and final closure of the conflict, the IRA's pledge not to engage in any activities that would undermine the peace process or the Belfast Agreement in any way suggests a fundamental transition to democracy within the movement. Why then not spell out the activities which the IRA believes to be inconsistent with the whole process?
The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, should have recognised the advance made by Mr Adams yesterday, even if further clarification is required. He fostered the impression that he may simply want the Assembly elections to be postponed. The two governments have made a fine judgment call that a third clarification is required from Mr Adams to bring republicans within the democratic consensus on this island. After the to-ing and fro-ing of the past few days, the easiest question remains to be answered.