Statement from British Government this after.

"One year on the IRA 'has ceased all activity'

The IRA announced an end to its armed campaign in July 2005
The IRA is no longer involved in any centrally organised criminality, the British and Irish governments believe.

Speaking after meeting Irish ministers, NI Secretary Peter Hain said cross-border intelligence indicated the IRA was living up to its commitments.

Mr Hain said individual ex IRA members may be involved in criminal activities, but there is criminal activity in every country in the world, these people can not be called the IRA. Political progress has been made.

However, the DUP's Nigel Dodds, a member of the Third Force said
"This latest assessment from the secretary of state lacks credibility and will be treated by the vast majority of people in NI as yet another ham-fisted attempt to bluff the community and its political representatives into establishing an executive including Sinn Fein." This party knows only one word "NO".


Mr Hain said "What there is not is organised crime by the IRA."
He added, the IRA are delivering on their commitments made last July, not just in respect of shutting down paramilitary activity but also shutting down criminality."

Irish Justice Minister Mr McDowell, who has been strongly critical of republicans in the past, backed Mr Hain's assessment.

Asked if he believed the IRA's war was now over following its declarations and decommissioning last summer, he said: "The Irish government and British government do believe it's over yes, based on the evidence we have."

BBC Northern Ireland political editor Mark Devenport said it was as firm a statement on IRA criminality as the two governments had made since the statement by the IRA last July.


The British and Irish governments have to put pressure on the DUP before the 24th November to reach agreement and then restore devolution.