Reaction to loyalist weapons move

The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning has said it expects the UDA to decommission its arms by February 2010.

SHAUN WOODWARD, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NI

This is a hugely significant report which confirms substantial practical progress has been made on decommissioning loyalist paramilitary weapons over the past six months.

Confirmation by the IICD that all five brigades of the UDA remain committed to completing decommissioning within the timeframe of the Commission is very welcome.

ALEX MASKEY, SINN FEIN

The loyalist organisations who are committed to the peace process need to finish the work they have begun.

I welcome the fact that there are people within those organisations who are trying to show a positive leadership, but it is well past the time when they should have managed to dispose of these weapons once and for all.

FRANKIE GALLAGHER, ULSTER POLITICAL RESEARCH GROUP

We always had confidence it was going to get to this stage, although there were those who tried to deride the processes and hype things up.

It was never gong to be an easy process and we are very pleased that we have got to this stage.

STEPHEN FARRY, ALLIANCE PARTY

These are only words from the UDA. People are entitled to be sceptical of yet more promises, but little delivery to date.

The ever elastic timetable for decommissioning is to be further stretched to accommodate the continued procrastination.