Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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351. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the implementation of the recommendations to tackle paramilitarism given by the independent paramilitary panel in June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19662/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Paragraph 4.1, of Section A in the Fresh Start Agreement provided for the establishment of an expert panel to bring forward recommendations “for a strategy to disband paramilitary groups.’

The three members of the panel were appointed by the First and deputy First Minister in December 2015, namely Professor Monica McWilliams, Lord John Alderdice and solicitor John McBirney. The panel reported to the Northern Ireland Executive at the end of May and their report was then published on 7 June.

The Report contains over 40 recommendations and the Executive are now to bring forward an Action Plan. I met last Wednesday in Belfast with the First and deputy First Minister and the new Minister for Justice, Ms. Claire Sugden MLA. They informed me that the Action Plan will be published in the very near future.