Written answers

Thursday, 13 December 2007

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Northern Ireland Issues

5:00 pm

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will introduce legislation repealing the Independent Monitoring Commission in view of the unjustified drain it exerts on the Irish taxpayer and the high opportunity cost of spending on it in budget 2008, whereby the IMC will receive almost as much money as crime prevention measures and more money than services to crime victims. [34625/07]

Photo of Brian Lenihan JnrBrian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Far from being a drain on the Exchequer, as suggested by the Deputy, the Monitoring Committee has rendered signal service to the Irish people and continues to do so. There are therefore, no immediate plans to introduce legislation repealing the Independent Monitoring Commission Act 2003. The Deputy will be aware that the Commission is an independent body which was jointly established by the Irish and British Governments. Accordingly, any decision in this regard will have to be taken in concert with the British authorities, not as a unilateral action.

I would remind the Deputy that the Independent Monitoring Commission's contribution to the peace process has been truly significant. As its most recent report states, the objective for which the Commission was set up is being progressively achieved, and I would add that the IMC continues to do valuable work monitoring and reporting on the ongoing activities of paramilitary groups on the island. It also played a critical role in the process of normalisation which saw a significant reduction in the British military presence in Northern Ireland.

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