Colin McInnes, in his essay 'Taking the Gun out of Irish Politics: Decommissioning Terrorist Weapons in Northern Ireland,' discusses the critical role of decommissioning in the peace process. He outlines the challenges faced in 1997, including the PIRA's bombing campaign, loyalist threats of violence, and the lack of trust in the Major government. The essay highlights the significant progress made by the end of the year, with Sinn Féin at the negotiating table, the PIRA ceasefire re-established, and a referendum date set, that is judged to be largely due to the election of Tony Blair's Labour government and Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail government. McInnes emphasizes that while decommissioning is essential, the broader issue of demilitarization and confidence-building measures are also crucial for lasting peace.
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