Breakthrough
On 7 August 2001, the IRA agreed on a method of destroying its arsenal. Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the time, described the breakthrough as "significant" and "historic". Gen. John de Chastelain of Canada, chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, said the proposals had been accepted by the panel as ones that would "put I.R.A. arms completely and verifiably beyond use." The Ulster Unionists had said they would no longer take part in the Northern Ireland Assembly if the IRA did not begin disarming. The announcement came after meetings between the commission and a representative of the IRA.
After the September 11 attacks, the paramilitary groups stepped up their decommissioning.
In June 2009, both the UVF and Red Hand Commando announced that they had completed a process of decommissioning. The UDA confirmed it has started a process that would lead to the destruction of all its arms.
Read more about this topic: Decommissioning In Northern Ireland