Well so far responses from senior politicians haven't been entirely unpredictable. The governments are practically throwing a party for Gerry and the Widowmakers, Peter Hain warns Unionists not to doubt the sincerity of his buddies in the IRA or else they're bad, bad people standing in the way of peace and questions are asked as to whether this means the IRA will finally accept the legitimate police service and allow them to get on with their jobs of protecting our communities.

The worst offence was probably continuous references by republicans to the "Sinn Fein peace strategy." WHAT THE HELL? It's damn easy to create a peace strategy when you're the one holding the guns!

You can't blame normal people for being sceptical. We've had 7 years of statements and promises from the IRA that have amounted to very little. In 1994 there was a "complete cessation" and within 3 years they were bombing Manchester.

Anyway, rant over, let's see what the powers that be had to say...

Follow up:

Peter Hain is already planning the return of devolution and legislation to enact the removal of the legitimate armed forces from Northern Ireland and to allow on-the-run gangsters to return to Northern Ireland. Chris Thornton at the Belfast Telegraph meanwhile accuses Peter Hain of making a huge blunder in letting Sean Kelly out and ruining any chance of the IRA statement meaning anything to unionists.

Ian Paisley, DUP
"We will judge the IRA's bona fides over the next months and years based on its behaviour and activity.

Even on the face of the statement they have failed to explicitly declare an end to their multi-million pound criminal activity and have failed to provide the level of transparency that would be necessary to truly build confidence that the guns have gone in their entirety.

This lack of transparency will prolong the period the community will need to make its assessment.

We treat with contempt their attempt to glorify and justify their murder campaign and we will be evaluating the extent of the price paid by the government and the consequences that will have for the political process."

While it sounds harsh I find it hard to disagree. The IRA may or may not end their criminal gangsterism.

There will be a lack of transparnecy in any decommissioning.

They did give a contemptuous "We are very mindful of the sacrifices of our patriot dead, those who went to jail, Volunteers," and "We reiterate our view that the armed struggle was entirely legitimate."

Actions not words.

Mark Durkan, SDLP
"The SDLP hopes that, as promised, all IRA paramilitary activity and all IRA involvement in organised crime will end now and for good - as well as the culture of cover up and community control.

It has to be noted that today's statement does not commit to the provisional movement to policing. Yet policing is fundamental to accepting the rule of law and vital to tackle organised crime.

The SDLP calls on Sinn Fein to join with us in upholding the new beginning to policing."

Denis Bradley, Vice Chairman, Policing Board
"This is enormous within the history of this island. Will Sinn Fein now take their responsibility and their place in policing and justice?"

Good question. Without the provies to 'police' republican areas, that only leaves a choice of dissident republicans likely to undermine what the IRA say they are trying to do, or the police. Well...?

Reg Empey
"People are so sceptical, having had...been burnt so many times before.

This is not simply whinging or being difficult about it, it's being simply factual that we've had so many statements before that haven't been kept.

And as far as the whole criminality is concerned, I mean, there are huge multi-million-pound smuggling rackets that have been run by the IRA, the bank robbery that was only recently held at the Northern Bank, which was the largest in British history, so, you know, people are going to take some time to see.

Basically what I said earlier, we'll wait and see what happens. More or less what Paisley said, although phrased a little less confrontationally.

Tony Blair
"Today may be the day that peace replaced war, that politics replaced terror, on the island of Ireland.

It is what we have striven for and worked for throughout the eight years since the Good Friday Agreement.

It creates the circumstances in which the institutions can be revived"

I beg your pardon? The island of Ireland? I know you're having a love-in with Gerry and Friends right now but don't resort to their loaded lingo. And a statement doesn't create circumstances in which anything can happen, actions (or the lack thereof) may do that.

Like the Good Friday Agreement, everyone's taking what they want from this, ignoring the IRA's maintenance that it's 35 years of war and bloodshed against the people of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was somehow justified and legitimate, nor that the IRA seemingly hasn't renounced it's 'right' to return to the "armed struggle" if their mouthpieces in Sinn Fein don't get everything their own way at the negotiating table.

Can't you just feel the hand of history on your shoulder?