Adams calls for IRA to embrace peace process. Erm, shouldn’t they have been doing that all along?

It’s seven years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, but, it’s just dawned on Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams that the IRA should "embrace the peace process".

Today he appealed to the leadership of the IRA to follow Sinn Fein down the political route. "I want to use this occasion, therefore, to appeal to the leadership of Óglaigh na hÉireann to fully embrace and accept this alternative."

Mr Adams said he knew "full well that such truly historic decisions can only be taken in the aftermath of intense internal consultation."

It is understood the IRA Army Council is studying Mr Adams' appeal.

So what’s been going on in the IRA for the past seven years? Is Adams admitting that the IRA weren’t "at peace"? Or, is it more likely he is electioneering for the forthcoming British General Election in May.

Considering the massive fall in popularity that SF has suffered in recent months over the Northern Bank robbery and, in particular the killing of Robert McCartney and the subsequent code of Omerta that witnesses to his murder inadvertently found themselves in, would it be any surprise at all if the IRA were to make some headline grabbing decommissioning move prior to the election.

It may be a cynical move, but, having gone head-to-head with Blair and Ahern over most of the past 10 years, you could argue that Adams and Martin McGuinness learned political cynicism from the best in the business.