There will be no amnesty for paramilitary fugitives from justice in Northern Ireland who return home under new legislation, British MPs were told today.
But Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain told MPs that there would be a judicial element to the legislation allowing "on-the-runs" to return.
The Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain
He said: "As part of that judicial process concerning on-the-runs, if they are found guilty and are then granted a licence, if those conditions of the licence are broken they will be arrested again."
Mr Hain said not so many years ago, unionists and republicans were agreed one one thing, that the IRA would never give up their weapons.
"But the 'impossible' has happened - the war machine that brought death and destruction to thousands of people in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and beyond, indeed to this House, has gone."
Immensely significant thought this was, there was "more to be done in demonstrating that the IRA have put paramilitary activity behind them for good".
The Independent Monitoring Commission is expected to report in the next week or so on paramilitary activity. The Government had asked for an additional report in January to "reinforce the crucial verification process".
Mr Hain also said: "The Government believes that the interests of everyone in Northern Ireland are best served by local decision making through a devolved Assembly.