As Good As It Gets?
Previously I wrote that I couldn't see today's IMC report making much difference to the political deadlock. After looking at it I would have to admit I was wrong, in as much as it did pose a dilemma for the DUP. Apart from finding that the 7 strong council had "fallen into disuse", the IMc said they did not foresee any formal announcement of its disbandment.
Given that this is precisely what the DUP has been looking for, this meant Peter Robinson had to decide whether to hold out for such a formal P. O'Neill statement. Or should he agree with Shaun Woodward's assessment that the debate over the Army Council's role is now history and this is, as Jack Nicholson might put it, "as good as it gets".
In the pouring rain outside the Assembly building, the DUP leader told us he still wants more - a confirmation from the republican leadership that the Army Council will never meet again and the IRA is out of business for good. He stopped short of calling for a formal P, O'Neill statement, so maybe something from Gerry Adams or Martin McGuinness would do the trick.
Whether they will oblige I may find out in about ten minutes time in the Stormont Great Hall.
In the meantime, Jim Allister has been pouring scorn on today's report, which he reckons is full of "Jesuitical verbiage". With the Stormont Executive having failed to convene since mid June, the Traditional Unionist MEP argues that it too is no longer "operational or functional", yet, he points out, one would hardly deny that it exists.
UPDATE: Well I got to ask Sinn Fein whether they would provide the words Peter Robinson wants. Instead Gerry Adams made a joking reference to providing a photo of the IRA Army Council not meeting. It was a clear reference to the photos of IRA decommissioning which the DUP asked for but never got. More talks are due between the two parties tomorrow morning at Stormont castle - let's see if they get anywhere.
I'm 
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