· Written Answer from Justice Minister reveals work to tackle paramilitarism is still at a scoping and research stage
· 12 months on from Fresh Start the Executive's response lacks urgency
· Time for sanctions for those who refuse to leave criminality behind
In response to a Written Answer from the Justice Minister where she outlined her assessment of the implementation of the Fresh Start commitments to tackling paramilitarism, Doug Beattie MC MLA said:
“The Executive launched their plan to eradicate paramilitaries and associated organised crime to much fanfare earlier this year. Yet in a Written Answer the Justice Minister reveals that, apart the public awareness campaign due to launch on the 5 December, the other work on tackling paramilitarism doesn’t seem to amount to anything other than scoping exercises and research. Is this seriously the stage the Executive are at 12 months on from hailing a Fresh Start?
“The Executive's response to tackling paramilitarism lacks urgency. We are hearing on a daily basis of the grip paramilitaries still have on communities in Northern Ireland. When will those people wanting to live free of this suppression finally feel the benefit of the Executive’s action plan?
“When the Executive published their action plan for tackling paramilitarism they said they hoped it would send a clear signal that they value the work communities do to move this issue forward. They could send the clearest signal possible by moving to put sanctions on those who refuse to leave behind criminality.”