Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
48. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the progress made in discussions with the British Government on the recommendation made by the Independent Reporting Commission in its fifth and sixth reports, published in December 2023, “for an agreed formal process of Group Transition, involving direct engagement with the paramilitary groups themselves, to bring about disbandment”; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55077/23]
View answerThis question asks if any progress has been made with the British Government regarding the recommendation made by the Independent Reporting Commission in its fifth report, and its sixth report that was published very recently, "for an agreed formal process of Group Transition, involving direct engagement with paramilitary groups themselves, to bring about disbandment".
I thank the Deputy for this question. As he will be aware, as I am sure other colleagues are, the Independent Reporting Commission is the body established under the Fresh Start Agreement of 2015 to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The commission submitted its first report to the UK and Irish Governments back in 2018, and the sixth and most recent report on 5 December. Both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have welcomed the report of the commission, and I laid it before Cabinet last week.
The commission views the twin-track approach as key to tackling paramilitarism. This involves progress both through the policing and criminal justice response, and a response to the wider socioeconomic factors that exist in the communities where paramilitaries continue to operate. Coupled with this is an additional dimension that the Deputy has referred to, namely the consideration of undertaking a process of engagement directly with the paramilitary groups themselves, aimed at group transition with the end goal of disbandment.
One of the recommendations in the commission's fifth report is that the Governments consider appointing an independent person to engage with the groups on this transition. The Governments have discussed the analysis and recommendations of the IRC, including at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference as recently as last month here in Dublin. Both sides acknowledge that additional steps are needed to definitively achieve the ending of paramilitarism. Both Governments agree that the IRC’s recommendation for the appointment of the independent person to engage with and report in detail on the question of the possible establishment of a formal process of comprehensive group transition has the potential to make a positive contribution. We will continue our joint work to consider this recommendation of the IRC. While a person has not been appointed, we are actively engaged in who that person might be, how that person would operate and then in putting forward potential proposals around a formal process of group transition. My Department remains committed to continued constructive engagement with the commission more broadly in respect of its work in 2024. As I outlined, the report deals not just with this particular recommendation but also the way in which we can engage proactively with communities, support them where there is a criminal element to the paramilitary groups still on the ground and where there is a need to invest in the socioeconomic issues impacting those communities.
I thank the Minister for her comprehensive answer. It is very useful. That recommendation is key in the report because if you can persuade people to move forward, it is an enduring way of creating a circumstance in which these groups would disband or would not operate. Will the Minister indicate whether the British Government is fully bought into this concept? Does she think progress can be made? There is a certain amount of urgency. When you are on a bicycle, if you stop going forward, you start wobbling and you will fall off. There is an element of that in this case. It is important that we continue to progress. It would be a bold step, which I accept. There are precedents for such bold steps in the past, which reaped rich dividends and talking has been more beneficial than anything else in bringing about a new dispensation.
I agree with the Deputy. This is an important recommendation which the Government and I will support. In my engagement with the British Government, it also supports it. It is about finding a mechanism by which everybody involved supports it fully. There are ongoing situations in Northern Ireland - there is no functioning Executive and there are a number of parties there. It is about making sure all parties that are potentially impacted, including communities, are in agreement on how we move forward. It is a bold move, as the Deputy said. It may not be something everybody will support but in the past we have seen something like this be successful. It adds to the other dimensions of work under way. There is a view from some that the organisations are only engaged in criminal activity. We need to look at all of the different elements and take a full view of what might work and be helpful, in particular trying to get the end goal of full disbandment. I support it, as does the Government. We will continue to work with the UK Government to that effect.
I agree that it is fair to say the different groups involved in paramilitarism on both sides of the community could have different characteristics, which we must recognise. That said, the IRC has been a responsible body and it has gone about its business quietly and efficiently. It operates in a coherent fashion, even though members come from very different perspectives. In my interaction with them, I found them to be a very impressive group of people who think deeply about this and make serious recommendations. I am not asking a question, I am hoping that we can progress this matter. I thank the Minister for her positive replies. Not every group may buy in but if any do, it will be worth the effort.
I agree. I have met the members of the Independent Reporting Commission several times. They have all been appointed for their own reasons and their experience. The way in which they have engaged with and in the community has been positive. They gained the trust of a lot of people, have been engaged and worked in a proactive and positive manner. Any of the recommendations, whether this or others, have been made through detailed consideration and active engagement with the communities on the ground, those most impacted by this issue. I support any recommendations they make and take them very seriously, as does the Government, including the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach. That is why I support this. We need to actively find a way to progress it.
