Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Independent Reporting Commission is the body established under the Fresh Start Agreement 2015 to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The Commission submitted its first Report to the UK and Irish Governments in 2018 and its sixth and most recent report on 5 December. Both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have welcomed the reports of the Commission.

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.

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 Commission views the Twin Track Approach as key to tackling paramilitarism. This involves progress both through the policing and criminal justice response, and a response to the wider socio-economic factors that exist in the communities where paramilitaries continue to operate.

I welcome that the Commission notes progress being made to tackle paramilitary activity. The Commission 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. I can also assure the Deputy of the very close, ongoing co-operation between the Gardaí and their police and security counterparts in Northern Ireland in all aspects of policing and, indeed, in countering the threat from paramilitaries and cross border crime.

The Commission continue to see the need for a third dimension to tackle paramilitarism, namely the consideration of the undertaking of a process of engagement with the paramilitary groups themselves, aimed at Group Transition and the end goal of disbandment. One of the recommendations in the fifth report is that the Governments consider appointing an independent person to engage with the groups on transition. Both Governments agree that this recommendation has the potential to make a positive contribution, and will continue our joint work to consider this recommendation of the Commission.

This recommendation is one of a suite of responses identified by the IRC to be considered in tackling paramilitarism.

My Department remains committed to continued constructive engagement with the Commission and with the authorities in Britain and Northern Ireland on tackling this complex problem.