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Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (Specified Organisations) Order 2008

In welcoming this order, I recognise the constant need to review and refresh the groupings in Northern Ireland that require specification for the purpose of sentencing. I fully support the Northern Ireland Office in its efforts to bring about such provisions. However, I point out that until now no such legislative sanction has been available against Óglaigh na hEireann, despite initially being cited by the Independent Monitoring Commission in February 2006—some two and a half years ago. If further groups emerge—and I sincerely hope that they do not—that possess the structures, ideology and capability of a terrorist grouping and the Secretary of State receives assessments confirming that, I hope that it will not take two and a half years before their inclusion under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. I give a guarded welcome to the despecification of the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando. We have to recognise the hard work and dedicated efforts by community leaders in Northern Ireland and the organisations themselves to bring about such a situation. What continuing support and assistance do the Government intend to give loyalist communities so that they can continue to stride away from the grip of the paramilitaries and ensure that those who were once consumed by the past never return to it? I note that the Provisional IRA remains a non-specified organisation. What efforts has the Minister made to see the final withdrawal of the IRA’s Army Council? That is necessary so that further political progress can be made in Northern Ireland. Can the Minister give an assessment of the continued specification of the Loyalist Volunteer Force and other such groups which, although they masquerade as politically focused paramilitary movements, adorn themselves with such convenient shrouds simply to gain control and deference in their local community? They are nothing more than a facade for deeply damaging criminal empires. Indeed, in the 18th report of the Independent Monitoring Commission, the LVF was recognised as such. Is it not high time that they were treated as such?