In August 1994, the IRA declared a cease-fire. While the cease-fire briefly broke down in 1996, negotiations resumed in the summer of 1997 following the election of Tony Blair as prime minister. The cease-fire culminated in the watershed moment of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. In the Good Friday Accords, the IRA made a drastic shift in their policy and agreed to work towards a united Ireland only in peaceful terms. From the signing of the Accords on April 12, 1998 through the end of the year, many held out the possibility that the IRA had finally given up its terrorist tactics. However, while the IRA had theoretically agreed that a peaceful solution was the only option; their actions demonstrated that violence was still a viable option. Members continue to engage in criminal activities such as smuggling and robbery. <p><br />Violent splinter groups, such as the Real IRA and Continuity IRA, were formed in opposition to the IRA's participation in a ceasefire and the peace process, heightening sectarian tensions. Despite temporary setbacks, negotiations continued, and in 2001, the IRA announced that it would begin to disarm. Furthermore, in July 2002 the IRA issued a public apology to the civilian victims of its attacks. Despite these promises, it was not until July 2005 that the IRA formally ordered an end to their armed campaign, pledging to use non-violent means to achieve their goals. In September of that year, an independent commission set up to oversee the disarmament process, the Independent Monitoring Commission, reported that the IRA had in fact scrapped their arsenal. This is seen as a major step by the group in upholding their pledge to abstain from violence. <p><br />Some believe that the efforts the IRA has taken in recent years demonstrate its real commitment to peace and an end to its terrorist activity. Although disarmament is a huge step forward, it remains to be seen if the IRA's non-violence pledge will be backed up with further action, and whether the organization has permanently committed to leave terrorism behind. The continued presence of loyalist paramilitary organizations, violent Republican splinter groups, and sectarian tensions have the potential to drag the IRA back into terrorism. <br /><br /><br /><br />