I have to agree with Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde who said he agrees with the latest report on IRA activity by the Independent Monitoring Commission.

The report said the IRA had changed radically and said that its most important structures were dismantled. Sir Hugh told the Policing Board the PIRA has gone.

I myself as a member of the loyalist community do believe that the (Provisional IRA) have no intention of going back to an armed struggle in any way shape or form in terms of activities. I accept what the IMC was saying.

Sadly the Policing Board said that sick leave cost the police service £30m in lost days over the past 18 months, its the worst force in the United Kingdom for causal sick leave.

The two governments have given the politicians until 24 November to reach a deal on devolution. I now feel the time is right for unionists to sit with S.F. and get on with the business of running Northern Ireland. We all must put our past behind us.