A row erupted between the British Government and hardline unionists tonight after the Northern Ireland Office was accused of not being serious about decommissioning.
Democratic Unionist deputy leader Mr Peter Robinson clashed with the Government after the latest decommissioning legislation held out the possibility that the amnesty period for paramilitary organisations to disarm could be extended to February 2007.
The Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning (Amendment) Bill is proposing an initial extension of the amnesty period for disarmament to February 27th, 2003.
However it also proposes "further extensions may be made by order of the Secretary of State (John Reid) up to and including February 26th 2007".
Mr Robinson, the East Belfast MP, claimed tonight: "It is clear from the legislation that having initially claimed that all decommissioning would be completed by May 2000, the Government has allowed until 2003 and made provision until 2007 for decommissioning to take place.
"Indeed, who would argue that this date would not be put back again?
"This step clearly demonstrates clearly what a fraud the so-called decommissioning event was in October.
"Far from decommissioning being completed by next February, there is now another five years for decommissioning to take place."
Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble returned as Northern Ireland's First Minister and lifted sanctions against Sinn Féin ministers after the IRA carried out an act of decommissioning in October in the presence of the head of the Independent International Commissioning on Decommissioning, Gen John de Chastelain.
The move was welcomed by supporters of the Belfast Agreement.
However hardline unionists have remained sceptical about the move, claiming it was not clear how many weapons were put beyond use and whether it was part of a process of full IRA disarmament.
There has been no reciprocal move by mainstream loyalist paramilitary groups like the Ulster Volunteer Force or the Ulster Defence Association.
PA