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Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Adam Ingram (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 4 November 2009 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.


Paramilitary Activities

Question
I welcome the views of the IMC and its conclusion that the time is right for the transfer of policing and justice powers to the devolved Assembly. I ask my right hon. Friend to reiterate in very strong terms the view of the IMC that the transference of those powers would, in its words,""be a platform for co-operation against those trying to undermine the peace process."" That is the best signal to send to the dissidents.
Answer

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. It might be worth drawing the attention of the House to one of the remarks in the IMC's report today, which is that the activities of these dissidents""represent a challenging of the peace process by groups always violently opposed to it"," but critically at the moment""not an unravelling of that process."" We have a duty to ensure that that peace process does not unravel.


Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
498 c841-2 
Session
2008-09
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Northern Ireland Terrorism
Link
View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk