Press release
Minister McEntee and the Tánaiste welcome publication of the Sixth Report of the Independent Reporting Commission
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The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and the Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin welcomed the publication today of the sixth Report of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC).
The IRC is the body established under the Fresh Start Agreement 2015 to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The Sixth Report sets out the Commission’s assessment of progress to date on the implementation of the provisions of the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement that are designed to tackle paramilitary activity and associated criminality, with the aim of bringing an end to paramilitarism in Northern Ireland.
While acknowledging that paramilitarism is not on the same scale as it was during the Troubles, the IRC report that paramilitary groups remain active and continue to exert coercive control in some communities. The IRC have therefore not altered their view that the risks posed to society by the continuing existence of paramilitary groups and structures mean that paramilitarism remains a clear and present danger in and for Northern Ireland. For this reason, it must continue to be given sufficient attention and focus.
The Commission remains committed to the twin track approach to tackling paramilitarism. That is a policing and justice response, side by side with a comprehensive addressing of the systemic, socio-economic issues facing communities where the paramilitaries operate. The Commission continue to see the need for a third dimension to tackle paramilitarism, namely the undertaking of a process of engagement with the paramilitary groups themselves, aimed at group transition and the end goal of disbandment.
The Reports of the Commission provide a comprehensive insight into the work that is being done to tackle paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland and they set out a pathway to achieving progress.
Speaking on the Report’s publication, the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said:
“I would like to thank the Commissioners for their report. This sixth report again shows that paramilitary groups remain a clear and present danger.
"2023 marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, and while the IRC notes that the situation concerning paramilitarism in Northern Ireland today is significantly better than it was during the height of the Troubles, the fact that paramilitarism continues to exist in society, and the coercive control paramilitaries exert on certain communities, is simply not acceptable.
"These groups carry out appalling crimes targeting police and prison officers, and carrying out violent attacks within their own communities.
"In a year in which the Threat Level in Northern Ireland-related Terrorism was raised from “substantial” to “severe”, the continuing lethal threat these groups pose was evidenced in the shocking attempted murder of DCI Caldwell in February.
"It is of course concerning and regrettable that a small minority remains who do not accept that the overwhelming majority want peace and security on the island of Ireland.
"I welcome that the IRC reports that Phase Two of the Tackling Paramilitarism Programme is achieving tangible benefits on the ground and that collective law enforcement efforts are having an impact on the groups and their leaderships. I also welcome the recognition by the IRC of the continued good co-operation between the two jurisdictions at various levels including via the Joint Agency Task Force.
"We will continue working with the authorities in Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Independent Reporting Commission on tackling this complex problem.”
The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin said:
“I welcome this latest substantial report from the Independent Reporting Commission. While we welcome the progress that the IRC identifies in this report, it is long past time that the grip of paramilitarism on any community in Northern Ireland be completely removed and consigned to the past. The contemptible attempt to murder DCI John Caldwell during the last year was just one appalling example of the intent and willingness of such groups to use violence and the threat of violence to seek to exercise malign control of communities through fear.
“The governments have discussed the analysis and recommendations of the IRC including through the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference as recently as last week, and acknowledged that additional steps are needed to definitively achieve the ending of paramilitarism. These specific recommendations must be seriously and urgently considered. We have an obligation to work collectively to do everything possible to achieve our shared objective of permanently ending the presence of paramilitarism in any community or part of our society.”
Minister McEntee and the Tánaiste expressed thanks to the Commissioners and officials for this Report and their work to date.
Sixth Report of the Independent Reporting Commission
Sixth Report of the Independent Reporting Commission
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The Fresh Start Agreement was concluded on 17 November 2015. It included measures aimed at ending paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Executive, on the basis of recommendations from an expert panel, published the Executive Action Plan for Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime on 19 July 2016. It contains 43 commitments in response to the Panel’s recommendations. The Executive agreed a second phase of the Tackling Paramilitarism Programme which began in 2021 and will run until 2024.
To facilitate monitoring of the implementation of measures to address paramilitarism, the Fresh Start Agreement provides for the establishment by the two governments of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC). Legislation was enacted in Ireland and the UK to establish the IRC.
The IRC’s functions are to:
- report annually on progress towards ending continuing paramilitary activity connected with Northern Ireland (or on such further occasions as required)
- report on the implementation of the relevant measures of the three administrations – critical here is the Northern Ireland Executive’s Strategy to tackle paramilitary activity and associated criminality
- consult the UK Government and relevant law enforcement agencies, the Irish Government and relevant law enforcement agencies and, in Northern Ireland, the Executive, PSNI, statutory agencies, local councils, communities and civic society organisations
The IRC is a four-member body. Mr. Tim O’ Connor, former Secretary General to the President was nominated by the Irish Government. The UK Government nominated Mr. Mitchell Reiss, former US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland. Prof. Monica McWilliams and Mr. John McBurney were nominated by the Northern Ireland Executive.