On 29 November 1996, the Northern Ireland Office issued a press notice regarding the introduction of the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Bill in the House of Commons. Presented by Sir Patrick Mayhew QC, MP, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Bill aims to facilitate the decommissioning of firearms, ammunition, and explosives in Northern Ireland, as well as in England, Wales, and Scotland. Key provisions include a time-limited amnesty for possession-related offences committed under a decommissioning scheme, restrictions on the use of decommissioned items and related information as evidence, and limitations on forensic testing of decommissioned articles. The Bill also outlines the establishment of an independent Commission, as agreed upon by the UK and the Republic of Ireland, to oversee the decommissioning process. The Bill is designed to reflect the principles set forth by the International Body on decommissioning, chaired by Senator George Mitchell, and aims to provide legal protections and immunities for participants in the decommissioning schemes.
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