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Northern Ireland Bill

As I have said, I am not going to argue that point with the hon. Gentleman. At Question Time, I referred to the statement by the IRA, which is historic in itself. In the past, the IRA never acknowledged that illegal activities such as bank robberies amounted to criminality, because it never recognised the ability of the rule of law of the British state to restrict it from doing what it liked in Northern Ireland. I think that the hon. Gentleman will understand that; I know that Northern Ireland politicians will. Now, it has made a statement that is, in its own way, historic, and I think that the House should note it. The Easter statement by the IRA states:"““The IRA has no responsibility for the tiny number of former republicans””—" who may or may not have been expelled; I do not know—"““who have embraced criminal activity. They do so for self-gain. We repudiate this activity and denounce those involved.””" That kind of statement has never been made by the IRA before, and I think that it ought to be acknowledged.