Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and I welcome the independent reporting commission. I hope this will be another step towards achieving a society free from paramilitarism. This will help provide stability and peace in a society that has been plagued by violence for many years. The shared futures agreement promised to build hope and confidence throughout the North and to establish true reconciliation. While this has not been fully achieved yet, we must build a society based on equality and justice because this is the best way to ensure paramilitary activity will cease.

My father comes from Rathlin Island off north Antrim, and during the conflict we spent our summer holidays there. Rathlin is a small island but, while one would see the army in Belfast, the island led the way in non-sectarian politics. The community always worked together no matter what part people came from, and they still do that to this day. The people there lead by great example and the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is taking a trip up to Rathlin in September. Maybe the Minister would like to join us. It would be lovely if he came to meet the community there.

The fears of some communities are being exploited by paramilitary organisations for their own financial gain. This must not be tolerated, and support for independent community organisations must be maintained. The most deprived areas are those most affected by paramilitary activity and more investment and services in these communities will help decrease the influence of the paramilitary organisations, more than any policing or security measures. The re-establishment of the Northern Executive is of the utmost importance if this Bill is to be effective because the elected representatives in the North must work together to rid society of all paramilitary activity. To this end it is necessary that the equality agenda is implemented and outstanding issues from previous agreements are addressed. I know this is a very difficult situation and I wish all parties well in re-establishing the Northern Executive. With the start of the Brexit negotiations it is more important than ever that the Northern Executive is up and running and both the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, must ensure the issues leading to the suspension of the Executive are resolved.

I welcome the enactment of this legislation and I hope it can be an important step towards building a better future for all communities in the North.