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1 May 1997. Labour wins the British General Election. Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister and Mo Mowlam Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
16 May 1997. Blair outlines the new Government's approach in a major speech in Northern Ireland. After discussing the political issues involved he says: "Many will share my frustration that [these issues] have not already been addressed. The parties have been unable to agree on a way of dealing with decommissioning. We continue to support the parallel approach proposed by George Mitchell."
6 June 1997. Election in the Irish Republic. A coalition led by Bertie Ahern of Fianna Fáil replaces the Bruton Government.
15 June 1997. The British and Irish Governments give the IRA five weeks to call an unequivocal ceasefire in order for Sinn Féin to join the negotiations on their resumption on 15 September.
19 July 1997. The IRA calls a ceasefire.
29 July 1997. In a joint communiqué, the British and Irish Governments say they have decided to complete the work required to set up an Agreement which would allow an Independent Commission on Decommissioning to start work on a full operational basis "alongside the start of substantive negotiations on 15 September".
26 August 1997. The Agreement providing for the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning is signed. The Commission is required to consult with the parties involved in the negotiations and others on decommissioning schemes; "to present to the two Governments proposals for schemes having due regard to the views expressed by those it has consulted"; to undertake the tasks that might be required of it to facilitate decommissioning, "including observing, monitoring and verifying decommissioning and receiving and auditing arms"; and to make periodic reports. It was envisaged that the Commission would begin the formal process of consultation during the negotiations starting on 15 September.
29 August 1997. Mowlam accepts the veracity of the IRA's ceasefire and invites Sinn Féin to join the negotiations, saying that she trusts that "all participating parties will commit themselves to negotiate a settlement based on consent".
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