Blair’s concessions explain why London and Dublin thought the IRA would agree to start disarming. But the IRA balked. Sources say the IRA’s last-minute offer demanded “progressive and irreversible removal of the causes of conflict” (republican code for an end to the British presence in Ireland–and hence unacceptable to either London or Northern Ireland’s unionists) and “the full implementation of the Good Friday [peace] Agreement” leading to a “durable peace.” Only “in that context” would the IRA “consider” how to put its arms “beyond use.” There wasn’t enough meat in the package for London, and the peace process is in crisis.
title: “Concessions But To No Avail” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-26” author: “Douglas Burgin”
Blair’s concessions explain why London and Dublin thought the IRA would agree to start disarming. But the IRA balked. Sources say the IRA’s last-minute offer demanded “progressive and irreversible removal of the causes of conflict” in Northern Ireland (republican code for an end to the British presence) and “the full implementation of the Good Friday [peace] Agreement” leading to a “durable peace.” Only “in that context,” said the IRA, would it “consider” how to put its arms “beyond use.”
