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<p>I refer the Noble Lord to the <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-12-07/hcws422"
target="_blank">written statement</a> made by the Secretary of State for Northern
Ireland on 7 December with regard to the <a href="https://www.ircommission.org/sites/irc/files/IRC%20Fifth%20Report%20-%20Web%20Accessible.pdf"
target="_blank">fifth report</a> of the Independent Reporting Commission. As noted
in that statement, the report highlights progress in a number of areas, including
disruptions to paramilitary groups as a result of operations by the Paramilitary Crime
Task Force, the downward trend in some aspects of paramilitary activity demonstrated
by PSNI security statistics, and the reduction in the Northern Ireland-related Terrorism
threat level from SEVERE to SUBSTANTIAL.</p><p> </p><p>Yet the report also notes that
the problem of paramilitarism is enduring. A number of incidents in recent weeks have
demonstrated the callous disregard that paramilitary groups, or those who claim affiliation
with them, have for public safety, and the harm and disruption they continue to cause
to the communities they often claim to represent.</p><p> </p><p>Paramilitarism was
never justified in the past, and cannot be justified today. It needs to end for good.
It is clear that a sustained effort is required here over the long term to tackle
the enduring problem of paramilitarism. We remain committed to delivering our vision
of a safer, more secure Northern Ireland and to working with partners to support efforts
against the enduring threat and harms posed to communities by terrorist and paramilitary
groups.</p><p> </p><p>Political leadership from across the political spectrum in Northern
Ireland is essential to ensure it remains clear there is no place for paramilitarism.
The lack of a functioning Executive inhibits Northern Ireland Departments from taking
a strategic, cross-cutting approach to tackling paramilitarism in partnership with
the PSNI and the wider public sector. It remains the Northern Ireland Office’s top
priority to rectify the present situation.</p><p> </p>
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