IMC report 'continues to represent progress'
The Independent Monitoring Commission report helps to create an environment in which the Northern Ireland political parties can come together and begin the restoration of devolved government, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said today.
Mr McDowell said the report was both welcome and timely given the efforts being made to restore devolved government in the North.
He said: “The developments outlined in the report help to create the proper environment in which the political parties can come together on 15 May next and begin the process of self-government.”
Tony Blair announced earlier this month that the parties would return to the Assembly at Stormont on May 15 and that they had six weeks to try to form a power-sharing administration.
If, as widely expected, they fail, they will return for a second try after the summer recess, with November 24 the deadline.
Mr McDowell went on to urge Sinn Féin to take what he called the inevitable step now rather than later, of engaging with the policing structures in Northern Ireland.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey said the report continued to represent progress.
However he said : “The dog that didn’t bark is the IRA-authorised Northern Bank robbery and the failure of republicans to return the money. The UUP calls for an immediate return of these funds.”
Sir Reg said he continued to be concerned at the slow pace of loyalist organisations in moving towards exclusively peaceful means.
But he made it clear he was not particularly exercised by the confirmation some IRA members had retained weapons beyond the decommissioning.
Few would be surprised, he said, adding: “The purpose of decommissioning was always to establish the intent.”
However he said the reluctance of loyalists to begin the process of decommissioning remained a cause for concern.
Alliance Party leader David Ford welcomed the report as clear vindication of the role of the IMC.
“This further report shows that progress is being made to end violence and criminality by mainstream republicans.
“We welcome the reduction in criminality. We also welcome the positive effects that the IMC is having on the process to restore local democracy.”
The IMC was facilitating progress by providing transparent reports that could give people confidence, he said, rather than rumour and spin.
Sinn Féin has been a constant critic of the Commission, but Mr Ford said it was actually working in Sinn Féin’s interests, as long as Sinn Fein was making progress to live up to its promises.
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