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Paramilitary monitors' report due Sinn Fein police move 'big step'
(10 minutes later)
The organisation set up to monitor levels of paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland will publish its latest report later. The Independent Monitoring Commission has said Sinn Fein's endorsement of the police is a major step forward in the IRA's move away from paramilitarism.
The Independent Monitoring Commission is expected to give another positive assessment of the activities of the IRA. The organisation set up to monitor levels of paramilitary activity said it was "a very major development".
The 13th report of the commission was presented to the British and Irish Governments on Monday. Its 13th report covers the period 1 September to 30 November 2006.
The report covers the period 1 September to 30 November 2006. NI Secretary Peter Hain said the latest report from the ceasefire watchdog demonstrated the Provisional IRA's "commitment to the political path".
BBC Northern Ireland home affairs correspondent Vincent Kearney said the IMC delayed finalising their report until the outcome of Sinn Fein's special ard fheis on policing was known. The IMC delayed finalising their report until the outcome of Sinn Fein's special ard fheis on policing was known.
"The decision to endorse the police will be welcomed - and the governments will welcome most of what the report says," he said. It said: "The decision of the ard fheis (special party conference) held on January 28, 2007 to support policing and the criminal justice system was a very major development.
"The commission is expected to say that the IRA has continued to dismantle its structures, and to move away from violence to politics. "That decision and the efforts invested by the leadership of the republican movement in presenting the arguments in favour of the change were further substantial evidence of their commitment to the democratic process."
"There will be less positive news on republican dissidents. The report will express concern at increased activity levels by dissident groups, like the firebomb attacks on commercial targets last October, and warn that they remain a threat.
"There will also be negative news on loyalist paramilitaries, with the commission saying the UDA and UVF continue to be involved in drugs and other criminal activity and show no sign of decommissioning."
In its last report - in October 2006 - the IMC said the IRA had changed radically and dismantled some of its most important structures.In its last report - in October 2006 - the IMC said the IRA had changed radically and dismantled some of its most important structures.
It was the most positive report about IRA activities to date, saying the republican paramilitary group did not want to go back to violence and no longer had the capacity to mount a sustained campaign.It was the most positive report about IRA activities to date, saying the republican paramilitary group did not want to go back to violence and no longer had the capacity to mount a sustained campaign.
In that report it said the Real IRA was still a threat and that loyalist paramilitaries were changing, but at a much slower pace.In that report it said the Real IRA was still a threat and that loyalist paramilitaries were changing, but at a much slower pace.
The Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the British and Irish governments in January 2004.The Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the British and Irish governments in January 2004.
Most of its reports have concentrated on activity by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.Most of its reports have concentrated on activity by paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.
However, it also monitors the "normalisation" of security measures in the province.However, it also monitors the "normalisation" of security measures in the province.
Its four commissioners come from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Britain and the US.Its four commissioners come from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Britain and the US.