Sir, - Vincent Browne (Opinion, April 7th) is right to point out that a gesture of decommissioning is only one possible way of being reassured that the IRA's ceasefire is not merely tactical.
Has it ever occurred to him to ask why it is always left to people like himself or to governments to make suggestions to the republican movement on how they might demonstrate their commitment to a ceasefire and to peace? Have republicans got any ideas of their own, and if so, what are they?
It is not acceptable to entertain an argument on behalf of the IRA based on the fact that "the guns are silent", given that these guns have been so recently and frequently used in getting victims to succumb to so-called punishment beatings.
The people of Ireland, north and south, have shown tremendous leadership through referendums. It is time that the leadership of the republican movement showed some leadership. - Yours, etc., Dara Murphy,
Chairperson Fine Gael Cork North Central, Montenotte, Cork.