Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1095. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recent report of the Independent Reporting Commission; if he will outline the Government’s views on the absolute need to rid society of paramilitarism; the measures that will be implemented to deal with such issues of criminality, gangsterism and thuggery. [10703/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I know the Deputy is familiar with the work of the Independent Reporting Commission. The Commission was established under the Fresh Start Agreement 2015 to report on measures aimed at ending paramilitarism. The Commission has submitted seven reports to the UK and Irish Governments to date, the most recent last month. Both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have welcomed the reports of the Commission and recognise the very important role the Commission plays in highlighting the progress made in tackling residual paramilitarism in Northern Ireland and what still needs to be done.

The Commission views the twin track approach as key to tackling paramilitarism. This approach involves a policing and criminal justice response, side by side with a comprehensive response to the wider socio-economic factors that exist in the communities where paramilitaries continue to operate. The Commission also sees value in the undertaking of a process of engagement with the paramilitary groups themselves aimed at group transition with the end goal of disbandment.

In their Seventh Report, published on 25 February last, while the Commission note progress is being made to tackle paramilitary activity, including through the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime and the collective law enforcement effort, the IRC view is that paramilitarism continues to represent a threat to individuals and society, and must continue to be given sufficient attention and focus. Violent attacks, intimidation, coercive control, and threats linked to paramilitary groups continue to persist and remain a real concern.

It is simply unacceptable that paramilitary groups continue to exert their malign influence on communities, and the UK and Irish Governments have been giving consideration to what more can be done to end paramilitarism.

Last month we announced that we had agreed to jointly appoint, in the period ahead, within the existing IRC legislative framework, an Independent Expert to carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment.

The work of the Independent Expert is in addition to the ongoing work of the Commission, the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime and the robust policing and criminal justice efforts.

I 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 House of the very close, ongoing co-operation between An Garda Síochána 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.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department remains committed to continued constructive engagement with the Commission, the British Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive in respect of the work of the Commission to tackle this complex problem.