A dramatic IRA approach to Gen John de Chastelain as Mr Peter Mandelson was suspending the North's political institutions led to last night's first IRA commitment to decommission weapons in a certain context.
In a move described as "highly significant" by the Government last night, the IRA told the chairman of the decommissioning body that "the IRA will consider how to put arms and explosives beyond use, in the context of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and in the context of the removal of the causes of conflict".
It went on to say, according to a new report issued by Gen de Chastelain last night, that the IRA representatives have now indicated to the commission "the context in which the IRA will initiate a comprehensive process to put arms beyond use, in a manner as to ensure maximum public confidence.
The Commission believes that this commitment, on the basis described above, holds out the real prospect of an agreement which would enable it to fulfil the substance of its mandate."
The report of the IRA's statement was being interpreted in Government circles last night as a commitment in principle to decommissioning.
Asked about the apparent conditionality of the commitment to decommissioning - that it would be done in a certain "context" - Government sources said this context was spelt out in the report as "the context of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and in the context of the removal of the cause of conflict".
It is understood that the reference to the full implementation of the agreement and the removal of the causes of conflict refers in particular to the need for demilitarisation by the British army - the removal of military installations and reduction in troop numbers.
Government sources say they believe the IRA can now move on to discussing the modalities and timescale for decommissioning with Gen de Chastelain. They insist the IRA has crossed the Rubicon with the commitments in the latest report.
The wording used by the IRA and contained in this latest report from Gen de Chastelain is understood to have been under discussion for the past fortnight between the IRA and senior Government officials. However up to 6 p.m. yesterday evening - when it became clear the institutions were going to be suspended - the Government had no indication from the IRA that it was willing actually to utter these words to the decommissioning body.
The timing of the IRA's statement also took the Government by complete surprise. The Taoiseach was about to go out to the steps of Government Buildings to give his reaction to the suspension when he was advised to "hold on". He was told Mr Adams had announced that "a new and significant proposition" to resolve the arms issue "has now emerged".
The breakthrough came too late to prevent yesterday evening's suspension, which is believed to have been hastened by the threat that the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, could resign if the talks and discussions were not concluded. However, Government sources last night said they wanted the suspension of the institutions to be as short as possible. "Days rather than weeks," was how one source put it.