Opposition unites in bid to abolish paramilitaries
Ireland's main opposition parties are to mount a joint bid to force the abolition of the IRA and other paramilitary organisations.
Fine Gael and the Labour Party, backed by the Greens, said tonight they were tabling a motion urging the end of all forms of paramilitarism for debate in the Dáil.
The three party leaders involved in the move called for support for their joint effort from all members of the 166-strong house.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: “It articulates the very strong wish of all the Irish people, north and south, for an end to all paramilitary activity.
“The continued existence and activities of paramilitary groups are a huge obstacle to the implementation of the Good Friday agreement, which was so overwhelmingly approved by the people.
“The IRA must accept that it has no role and no future in a democratic society and I call on its leadership to bring its criminal activities to an end.”
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said the motion reflected the clear wishes of the majority “that the IRA and other paramilitary organisations should get off the backs of the people for once and for all, and allow democratically-elected politicians to get on with the job they were elected to do”.
Trevor Sargent, head of the Greens, declared: “The Green Party reaffirms its position that armed groups operating outside the law have no role in building a democratic, peaceful and sustainable society, and calls for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to lay to rest the ghosts of atrocities on all sides, which feed sectarianism and prevent progress towards peace.”
The three-party motion – for debate during Fine Gael’s private members’ Dáil time – also regretted the failure to make any significant political progress in Northern Ireland since last November’s assembly elections, and identified the continued operation of illegal paramilitary organisations, north and south, as a huge obstacle.
It called on “the members of all paramilitary groups to end all illegal activities and to disperse – thus allowing their organisations to become a thing of the past.”
The motion also said “having regard to the fact that the IRA operates within this jurisdiction and claims to be the successors of those who fought for Irish independence, we call on members of all sections and wings of the IRA to accept this motion and act accordingly.”
