Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
63. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the views of the Government and her Department on the recommendation made by the Independent Reporting Commission in its Fifth and its Sixth Report, 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. [55078/23]
View answerThe Independent Reporting Commission is the body established under the Fresh Start Agreement 2015 to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The Commission submitted its first Report to the UK and Irish Governments in 2018 and its most recent report on 5 December. Both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have welcomed the reports of the Commission.
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 socio-economic factors that exist in the communities where paramilitaries continue to operate. Coupled with this is an additional dimension, namely the consideration of an undertaking of a process of engagement with the paramilitary groups themselves, aimed at Group Transition and the end goal of disbandment.
One of the recommendations in the fifth report is that the Governments consider appointing an independent person to engage with the groups on transition.
The Governments have discussed the analysis and recommendations of the Commission including through the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference as recently as last month, and acknowledge that additional steps are needed to definitively achieve the ending of paramilitarism. It is simply not acceptable that paramilitarism be allowed to be perpetuated for this and future generations.
Officials from my Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Northern Ireland Office continue to engage on these matters. Both Governments agree that the Commission's recommendation for the appointment of an Independent Person to engage 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, and will continue our joint work to consider this recommendation of the Commission.
My Department remains committed to continued constructive engagement with the Commission in respect of its work in 2024.
