The Secretary of State, Dr John Reid, has signalled his support for tomorrow's protest rallies against mounting sectarian violence and threat in Northern Ireland.
Stressing the need for "an extraordinary unity of purpose" in the aftermath of the murder of Mr Daniel McColgan last Friday, Dr Reid told the Commons he was convinced there was now "a growing tide of revulsion" against the activities of loyalist and republican paramilitary organisations.
Confirming that 3,500 staff from the Northern Ireland Office and other government agencies would be free to attend the rallies called by the ICTU, Dr Reid told MPs the murder of Mr McColgan represented "nothing less than a war on the whole of Northern Ireland, including the youngest school children, the weakest old people and the most exposed and vulnerable public sector workers, who, through their own dedication, are working in the community". Dr Reid's words were echoed by Northern Ireland First Minister and Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble.
Dr Reid and Mr Trimble staged a demonstration of common purpose yesterday, confirming at least a public truce after their spectacular falling-out in the House of Commons debate on the grant of office facilities to Sinn Féin MPs at Westminster just before Christmas.
Dr Reid agreed with Mr Trimble that "one hopeful sign" during the recent troubles was the decision of Ardoyne residents not to reinstate their protest at the Holy Cross School. Paying tribute to Mr McColgan, Mr Trimble said: "There are elements in Northern Ireland, both dissident republicans and elements within loyalism, who want to undermine the devolved institutions, who do want to undermine the progress, precarious though it is at times, we have made."
Their exchange came during a session of Northern Ireland Questions which dramatically underlined the limits of devolution, with the First Minister and two other ministers from the Executive lining-up with other MPs to press British ministers on the continuing campaign of loyalist violence, so-called "punishment attacks" by republicans and what Dr Reid himself termed the risk of "degeneracy into organised crime".
The Security Minister, Ms Jane Kennedy, insisted the government was "not complacent about the scale of organised crime".
Pressed by the Conservative spokesman, Mr Quentin Davies, Dr Reid conceded the government had not yet formulated proposals - promised during last year's Weston Park negotiations - providing effective amnesty for fugitives, or "on the runs", who, by virtue of not having been prosecuted, had not benefited from the prisoner release programme agreed as part of the Belfast Agreement.
Government sources later described the task of preparing legislation on the issue as "extraordinarily complex".