If the IRA's words are borne out by verified actions, it will be a momentous and historic development.

If they don't, we will intensify every single effort that I can physically and possibly do legislatively, and with the security forces, to break these organizations,

I believe that history will come to judge today's vote as a milestone of enormous significance in the journey towards a new and brighter future in Northern Ireland and on this island as a whole,

Whoever is behind any of the various community violence, anywhere, whether it's republican or loyalist, we're determined to do all we can to de-escalate that and to get on with it.

There is absolutely no excuse for the disgraceful scenes in Dublin today. It is the essence of Irish democracy and republicanism that people are allowed to express their views freely and in a peaceful manner.

We have reached a point in the process where the parties must decide. We are giving them a reasonable but finite time to do so.