Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004
4 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the further action proposed, following the report of the Independent Monitoring Commission, to ensure that all parties fully comply with their obligations under the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14852/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the two Governments and has three main functions. It is mandated to monitor and report on paramilitary activity, security normalisation and participation by the Northern Ireland parties in the political institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement.
Its first report on paramilitary activity was published on 20 April and its conclusions and recommendations have been accepted by the two Governments. The commission has since been requested to make a report on security normalisation and has indicated that it intends to do so by July. Regrettably, due to the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly, it is not currently possible for the commission to carry out its functions in relation to participation by the parties in the institutions of the Agreement.
The restoration of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland, the stable operation of all the political institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and the full implementation of all its commitments remain the Government's key priorities. As the Taoiseach and I have made clear on many occasions, the requirements for the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland include an end to paramilitary activity of all kinds, as required by paragraph 13 of the Joint Declaration and, in that context, a commitment by all sides to full and wholehearted participation in the political institutions of the Agreement.
The Government will continue to engage with all parties, including in the context of the current review of the operation of the Agreement, with a view to the earliest resolution of these key issues of trust and confidence.
Is the Minister aware that, according to the commission's report, violence and crime are increasing in Northern Ireland? The report states that many paramilitary groups remain active and have the capacity to reopen a terrorist campaign. It also states that, while the number of murders has reduced, it is still high but has not exceeded 18 since the signing of the Agreement. However, the report points out that is not an insignificant number and the number of shootings and assaults between 1999 and 2002 was almost double the number between 1991 and 1994.
Given Northern Ireland's population of 1.17 million, is the Minister aware that the report indicates that these figures would be the equivalent of 63,000 shootings in Britain at the same time? The report describes what it calls horrible violence. Is the Minister aware that a paramilitary group is suspected of hijacking a vehicle on the Border earlier this year which contained a consignment of tobacco worth €3 million? Is he concerned that an organisation has the capacity to fence and distribute such a consignment and use the proceeds to fund political activities?
The report states politicians must respond to this challenge. What further action is proposed in light of the very grave findings in the report?
Obviously, I am aware of the full contents of the IMC report. As the Deputy stated, paramilitary activity has not been eliminated from Northern Ireland, although we are in a totally different position qualitatively than we were in at the height of the conflict.
One depressing aspect of the report that might not have been highlighted so much as others is that the level of loyalist paramilitary violence is higher than it was before the ceasefire. The Deputy can be sure that, through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, there exists the fullest possible co-operation between the Garda and the PSNI with a view to dealing with all criminal activity. All activity of the kind mentioned by the Deputy is being fully investigated all the time. One would have serious problems with some sophisticated heists that may provide funds for other activities. This is obviously an issue for the Garda to investigate and on which it must provide evidence.
The wider issue in this context concerns the need for political progress in Northern Ireland. In the absence of politics and, more particularly, working politics, paramilitarism fills the void. This is in the nature of divided societies and it is a legacy of the violence we have seen over the past two generations. There is a need to address it. The Irish and British Governments are committed, through this review process, to trying to bring about a restoration of the institutions. The relevant discussions are obviously more difficult than before, but they need to take place. The whole purpose of the engagement of the Irish Government is to bring to an end, once and for all, all forms of paramilitary activity and to ensure that the restoration of the institutions is consistent with the objectives and values of the Good Friday Agreement. It is not easy but we will not falter in our efforts. I believe the right circumstances can be created to deal with this matter appropriately.
Does the Minister agree there is another issue to be considered, namely that people seem to be involved in paramilitary organisations who are quite comfortable in their "cash, no-VAT" businesses? To draw them away from this is difficult. If somebody steals cigarettes to the value of €3 million, he obviously has business outlets in which to distribute and sell them. Is the Minister concerned that this culture still exists and that there is a financial disincentive for people to abandon paramilitarism because they have such business interests?
As the Deputy knows, there are people in every society with conditions such as those in Northern Ireland who try opportunistically to benefit, financially and otherwise, from such conditions. Unfortunately, this is a reality and we need to use all the forces of law and order to deal with it effectively. The level of co-operation between the PSNI and the Garda Síochána is at its maximum and there is certainly no reluctance in either jurisdiction to co-operate to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the rule of law.
We now have the Assets Recovery Agency and the Criminal Assets Bureau. Many developments have taken place and more tools are available to law enforcement agencies to deal with the problems. We must continue to support them in every way we can by providing resources and the other requisite supports they need to deal with this menace.
