Oral Question·Northern Ireland Office
“What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the recommendations in the Independent Reporting Commission's seventh annual report.”
Tabled: 13 February 2025Answered: 26 February 2025
Asked by
Michael Wheeler
Labour — Worsley and Eccles
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Answer from Hansard
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Hilary Benn)
The IRC’s report highlights progress, but reminds us that there is still much to do to tackle paramilitarism and the harm it causes. Following discussion with the Irish Government, it has been agreed to support a short, independent scoping exercise to assess whether there is merit in a formal process to bring about paramilitary group disbandment, as the IRC has suggested, and whether there would be public support for such a process.