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Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2006

My Lords, I thank the Minister for bringing this order before us today, but rather sadly. It is very disappointing that we are facing yet another extension of these Acts, but I agree with the Government: it is undoubtedly necessary. I have two questions. First, we have read quite a lot about loyalist decommissioning. Where do the Government think we are with regard to that? Secondly, and this is slightly more difficult and sensitive, there has been a lot of    reporting about the difference between the interpretation of the situation by the monitoring commission chaired by the noble Lord, Lord Alderdice, and the de Chastelain commission. I find it hard to believe that the IRA has retained any significant caches of weapons, but I would like reassurance that the Government are taking this situation seriously. It would be nice to know what the Government’s standing is on this point.