A round-up of today's other home news in brief
UDA groups ‘committed to disarmament’
The UDA and its breakaway section in southeast Antrim have told the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) that they are committed to full disarmament by February, Gerry Moriarty reports.
In its latest report to the British and Irish governments the IICD said the UVF had completed decommissioning in June while the mainstream UDA and the southeast Antrim UDA had begun the process. On the prospects for the mainstream and breakaway UDA groups, the commission said it believed both bodies would complete the process of disarmament within the timeframe of the its “current and final mandate”. It said it had overseen two acts of disarmament by the southeast Antrim group.
Oireachtas body’s chairman resigns
A member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission's audit committee has paid tribute to the committee's chairman, who is resigning his post, writes Mary Minihan.
Tom O’Higgins is understood to have written to the Clerk of the Dáil in July outlining his belief that a system of vouched expenses for TDs and Senators should have been adopted. He indicated his intention to resign at the committee’s next meeting.
Labour Senator Dominic Hannigan said Mr O’Higgins was a man of great intelligence and experience.
“Tom constantly raised the whole subject of expenses and there was general support for what he was trying to do,” he said. “It is always sad to see someone of Tom’s expertise leaving the service of the Oireachtas.”
Bill on European defence published
The Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009, requiring Dáil approval for Irish participation in European Defence Agency (EDA) operations, was published yesterday, writes Mary Minihan.
It is intended that the Bill will be introduced into the Dáil as soon as possible after October 2nd, subject to a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum. The proposed legislation sets out the legal arrangements under which the Government and Dáil must give prior approval for any Irish involvement in EDA projects and programmes.