Good Friday, April 10th, 1998: The Belfast Agreement is signed. On the issue of decommissioning, the agreement states: "All participants accordingly reaffirm their commitment to the total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations. They also confirm their intention to continue to work constructively and in good faith with the Independent Commission, and to use any influence they may have, to achieve the decommissioning of all paramilitary arms within two years following endorsement in referendums North and South of the agreement and in the context of the implementation of the overall settlement."
On the same day, a letter from the British Prime Minister to Mr Trimble states that if the provisions in the agreement on decommissioning were shown to be ineffective, the British government would support changes to ensure people connected with paramilitary organisations that still held their weapons would not hold political office.
"Furthermore, I confirm that in our view the effect of the decommissioning section of the agreement, with decommissioning schemes coming into effect in June, is that the process of decommissioning should begin straight away," Mr Blair said in his letter.
The International Independent Commission on Decommissioning had been set up in August 1997, a month after the second IRA ceasefire, to deal with the decommissioning issue. However, it had made no progress.
APRIL 28th, 1998: Former Hong Kong Governor and Conservative Party chairman Mr Chris Patten accepts job of chairing commission on policing.
APRIL 30th, 1998: The IRA issues a statement saying: "Let us make it clear that there will be no decommissioning by the IRA. This issue, as with any other matter affecting the IRA, its functions and objectives, is a matter only for the IRA, to be decided upon and pronounced upon by us."
MAY 22nd, 1998: The Belfast Agreement is endorsed in separate referendums by the people of Ireland. In the North is approved with 71 per cent in favour and 29 per cent against. In the Republic it is approved with 94 per cent voting in favour and 6 per cent against.
AUGUST 3rd, 1998: The Irish Government releases the first six IRA prisoners under the terms of the Good Friday agreement, despite unionist demands that such releases be made conditional on progress on decommissioning.
AUGUST 30th, 1998: An IRA statement says: "We made our position absolutely clear on this in April, we stand by that statement."
SEPTEMBER 11th, 1998: Three IRA and three UDA prisoners are released from the Maze Prison in the first releases in Northern Ireland. Release programme continues for two years, virtually emptying jails in the North and the Republic of paramilitary prisoners.
APRIL 1st, 1999: Intensive talks at Hillsborough Castle fail to produce a deal that would allow for the appointment of the power-sharing executive. The IRA's Easter statement, which many had hoped would make key concessions on decommissioning, makes no reference to the issue.
JULY 21st, 1999: Another series of meetings at Stormont fails to reach agreement on decommissioning to allow an executive to be set up. However, the IRA gives the first indication that there are conditions in which it might decommission weapons.
According to a statement: "Those who demand the decommissioning of IRA weapons lend themselves in the current political context, inadvertently or otherwise, to the failed agenda which seeks the defeat of the IRA." The significant addition was: "The British government have the power to change that context and should do so."
SEPTEMBER 9th, 1999: The Patten report recommends the most radical overhaul of policing in the history of Northern Ireland. The RUC should be renamed, given a new badge and symbols, and receive a major structural overhaul, including the establishment of new policing boards and administrative structures.
EARLY November 1999: Report on decommissioning from Gen de Chastelain says: "While decommissioning is an essential element of the Agreement, our discussions over the past year and a half convince us that the context in which it can be achieved is the overall implementation of that Agreement. All participants have a collective responsibility in this regard."
NOVEMBER 16th, 1999: A breakthrough allowing the establishment of the power-sharing executive follows a Sinn Fein statement saying: "Sinn Fein accepts that decommissioning is an essential part of the peace process. We believe that the issue of arms will be finally and satisfactorily settled under the aegis of the de Chastelain commission as set out in the Agreement. All parties to the Agreement have an obligation to help bring decommissioning about. Sinn Fein is committed to discharging our responsibilities in this regard.
"Decommissioning can only come about on a voluntary basis. The Good Friday Agreement makes clear that the context required for its resolution is the implementation of the overall settlement, including the operation of its institutions and using the mechanism of the de Chastelain commission. This is a collective responsibility.
"Sinn Fein has total and absolute commitment to pursue our objectives by exclusively peaceful and democratic means in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement. For this reason we are totally opposed to any use of force or threat of force by others for any political purpose. We are totally opposed to punishment attacks.
"In the Executive the two Sinn Fein Ministers will make and honour the pledge of office, which includes a commitment to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means. Under the terms of the Agreement any member of the Executive can be removed from office for failure to meet his or her responsibilities, including those set out in the Pledge of Office."
NOVEMBER 17th, 1999: An IRA statement, expected as part of the previous day's deal, say it will "appoint a representative to enter into discussions with General John de Chastelain and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning." However, it makes no further commitment.
NOVEMBER 27th, 1999: The Ulster Unionist Council approves the establishment of the Executive but sets a February deadline for decommissioning. The motion to enter the Executive, proposed by David Trimble on the basis of the three-month deadline, is approved by 58 per cent to 42 per cent.
Mr Trimble says: "Now we have done our bit and Mr Adams, it's over to you. We've jumped, you follow."
DECEMBER 2nd, 1999: The power-sharing executive is established. The IRA announces it has appointed a representative to enter discussion with the de Chastelain commission.
JANUARY 31st, 2000: The de Chastelain commission reports that while the IRA, UFF and UVF had held discussions with the commission, "to date we have received no information from the IRA as to when decommissioning will start". The commission warns: "A time will soon be reached beyond which it will be logistically impossible for us to complete our task by 22 May."
FEBRUARY 11th, 2000: Another report from the de Chastelain commission says there has been an "assertion made to us by the IRA representative that the IRA will consider how to put arms and explosives beyond use, in the context of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and in the context of the removal of the causes of conflict . . . The representative indicated to us today the context in which the IRA will initiate a comprehensive process to put arms beyond use, in a manner as to ensure maximum public confidence." It does not outline this "context".
Political institutions suspended by Northern Secretary Mr Peter Mandelson in the face of the imminent resignation of Mr David Trimble over the failure to make progress on decommissioning.
FEBRUARY 14th, 2000: The IRA withdraws from co-operation with the de Chastelain commission amid claims that it had been about to offer a breakthrough deal.
MARCH 25th, 2000: David Trimble survives leadership challenge from the Rev Martin Smyth at meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council by 57 per cent to 43 per cent. Council also passes motion linking re-establishment of Executive with retention of name and symbols of RUC.
MAY 5th, 2000: Deal reached at Hills borough Castle opening the way for the restoration of the political institutions.
MAY 6th, 2000: IRA statement, agreed as part of deal, holds open the prospect of initiating a process of putting weapons beyond use, if other commitments outlined the previous day, and in the Belfast Agreement, are honoured. These include the implementation of Patten report on police reform; the taking of steps to reduce the British military presence; and dealing with matters relating to human rights, equality and justice.
The IRA also says it would allow the inspection - and subsequent re-inspection - of some arms dumps by third parties as a "confidence-building measure". Former Finnish Prime Minister Mr Martti Ahtisaari and former African National Congress General Secretary Mr Cyril Ramaphosa are appointed as independent inspectors for the purpose.
The IRA statement on this day says: "The full implementation, on a progressive and irreversible basis by the two governments, especially the British government, of what they have agreed will provide a political context, in an enduring political process, with the potential to remove the causes of conflict, and in which Irish republicans, and unionists can, as equals pursue our respective political objectives peacefully. In that context the IRA leadership will initiate a process that will completely and verifiably put IRA arms beyond use. We will do it in such a way as to avoid risk to the public and misappropriation by others and ensure maximum public confidence.
"We will resume contact with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning and enter into further discussions with the Commission on the basis of the IRA leadership's commitment to resolving the issue of arms.
"We look to the two governments and especially the British government to fulfil their commitments under the Good Friday Agreement and the Joint Statement. To facilitate the speedy and full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the governments' measures, our arms are silent and secure. There is no threat to the peace process from the IRA.
"In this context, the IRA leadership has agreed to put in place within weeks a confidence-building measure to confirm that our weapons remain secure. The contents of a number of our arms dumps will be inspected by agreed third parties who will report that they have done so to the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. The dumps will be re-inspected regularly to ensure that the weapons have remained silent."
MAY 16th, 2000: British Government publishes the Police Bill to implement the Patten proposals for reform of the RUC. However the Bill defers a decision on the new title of the police service and rows back on proposals for new policing boards and structures seen as important by nationalists.
MAY 18th, 2000: Mr Trimble postpones Ulster Unionist Council meeting for a week to give him more time to sell the decommissioning formula.
MAY 27th, 2000: Mr Trimble wins the support of the Ulster Unionist Council by 53 per cent to 47 per cent.
MAY 30th, 2000: Devolution to the North's political institutions is restored.
JUNE 26th, 2000: IRA announces it has re-established contact with the de Chastelain commission and that "a number" of its dumps containing "a substantial amount of material including weapons, explosives and other equipment" have been inspected.
OCTOBER 26th, 2000: The IRA announces that these dumps have been re-inspected.
OCTOBER 28th, 2000: Mr Trimble tells the Ulster Unionist Council that he will begin to refuse to allow Sinn Fein Ministers attend meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council unless there is "substantial engagement" with the decommissioning body. He then narrowly defeats - by 54 per cent to 46 per cent - a motion from Mr Jeffrey Donaldson calling on the party to withdraw from the Executive if there was no decommissioning by November 30th.
NOVEMBER 22nd, 2000: Police Bill passes all stages at Westminster.
DECEMBER 5th, 2000: The IRA details the commitments it expects the British Government to fulfil to create the "context" for a process of putting weapons beyond use. The previous May, according to the IRA, the British government committed itself to "the implementation of Patten; to progressively take all the necessary steps to demilitarise the situation; to deal with matters relating to human rights, equality and justice; to resolve issues which remain outstanding at this stage in the development of the peace process".
MARCH 8th, 2001: Further talks at Hillsborough fail to provide breakthrough on decommissioning and on the restoration of Sinn Fein's ability to attend North-South Ministerial Council meetings. The IRA announces it has "decided to enter into further discussions with the IICD. This will be on the basis of the IRA leadership's commitment to resolving the issue as contained in our statement of May 6th, 2000, and on no other basis.
"For this engagement to be successful, the British government must deliver on its obligations. It must return to and deliver on the agreement made with us on May 5th, 2000.
"At that time the two governments in a joint letter and a joint statement set out commitments for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement by June 2001.
"The British government publicly and privately committed itself to deal with a range of matters including human rights, equality, justice, demilitarisation and policing."
MARCH 22nd, 2001: de Chastelain report confirms re-engagement by the IRA with the commission, and that a meeting with the IRA representative has taken place. However, the report says that since its last report to the governments, on December 22nd, "there has been no actual decommissioning but the events of the past few weeks lead us to believe that progress on it can be made."
MAY 8th, 2001: Mr David Trimble says he will resign as First Minister on July 1st if the IRA has not begun decommissioning by then. His statement is seen as attempt to avert UUP losses in imminent British General Election.
MAY 30th, 2001: The international inspectors Mr Maartti Ahtisaari and Mr Cyril Ramaphosa confirm they have carried out a third inspection of the arms dumps, and that the weapons remain unused.
MAY 31st, 2001: The IRA says it has met the international decommissioning body four times since March. The continuing discussions were "clear and irrefutable" evidence of its commitment to decommissioning, it says. "We reiterate our view that the resolution of the issue of arms is a necessary step in a genuine peace process," added the statement.
However, Mr Trimble points out, "What we have not seen is any progress on putting weapons beyond use."
JUNE 7th, 2001: Ulster Unionist Party loses three seats while the DUP gain two in Westminster election, putting more pressure on Mr Trimble. Sinn Fein gains two seats, giving it four - one more than the SDLP, which retains its three.
JUNE 20th, 2001: An IRA spokesman gives interviews to selected journalists and says: "We restate our belief that the issue of arms can be resolved but it will not be resolved by unionist ultimatums or on British terms." He insisted the IRA posed "no threat" to the peace process.
The IRA had honoured every commitment it had made, he said, but accused the British government of failing to honour its pledges. "On two major points in this agreement, policing and demilitarisation, the British government has reneged."