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Paramilitary monitoring body may 'mend stalled talks' Paramilitary monitoring body may 'mend stalled talks'
(35 minutes later)
Reviving the body that monitored paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland could help mend the stalled peace process, Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has said.Reviving the body that monitored paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland could help mend the stalled peace process, Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has said.
She told the House of Commons on Tuesday that the situation in Northern Ireland was "very grave".She told the House of Commons on Tuesday that the situation in Northern Ireland was "very grave".
Establishing a new monitoring commission might help.Establishing a new monitoring commission might help.
But in a tweet after her address, DUP leader Peter Robinson called her words "a holding statement".But in a tweet after her address, DUP leader Peter Robinson called her words "a holding statement".
Her commitment "in the coming days" to respond to concerns would delay the start of talks, he said.Her commitment "in the coming days" to respond to concerns would delay the start of talks, he said.
In her Commons statement, Ms Villiers said relationships between the political parties had "almost completely broken down."In her Commons statement, Ms Villiers said relationships between the political parties had "almost completely broken down."
"The brutal murders of Gerard Davison and Kevin McGuigan have brought into sharp focus the continuing problems around the existence of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland and the involvement of some of their members in criminality and organised crime," Ms Villiers told the House of Commons."The brutal murders of Gerard Davison and Kevin McGuigan have brought into sharp focus the continuing problems around the existence of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland and the involvement of some of their members in criminality and organised crime," Ms Villiers told the House of Commons.
"Serious consideration needs to be given to whether the time is right to re-establish a body along the lines of the Independent Monitoring Commission."Serious consideration needs to be given to whether the time is right to re-establish a body along the lines of the Independent Monitoring Commission.
The IMC was set up in 2004 to monitor paramilitary activity and the normalisation of security measures in Northern Ireland. It stopped work officially in March 2011.The IMC was set up in 2004 to monitor paramilitary activity and the normalisation of security measures in Northern Ireland. It stopped work officially in March 2011.
The story of Stormont's crisisThe story of Stormont's crisis
Read more on how the crisis unfoldedRead more on how the crisis unfolded
"The remit the parties might wish to give to such a body is likely to be different from those addressed by the original IMC, reflecting changed circumstances," she said."The remit the parties might wish to give to such a body is likely to be different from those addressed by the original IMC, reflecting changed circumstances," she said.
"But there might well be scope for such a body to play a part in providing greater community confidence and repairing working relationships within the (Stormont) Executive.""But there might well be scope for such a body to play a part in providing greater community confidence and repairing working relationships within the (Stormont) Executive."
She said the government would also look at ways to support efforts to tackle organised crime and cross-border crime in Northern Ireland.She said the government would also look at ways to support efforts to tackle organised crime and cross-border crime in Northern Ireland.
But it was also vital to address the differences blocking the implementation of the Stormont Agreement.But it was also vital to address the differences blocking the implementation of the Stormont Agreement.
"Without welfare reform and steps to tackle in-year budget pressures, there is a real danger that executive departments could start running out of money," she said."Without welfare reform and steps to tackle in-year budget pressures, there is a real danger that executive departments could start running out of money," she said.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said it is only prepared to attend more talks "in the right circumstances."The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said it is only prepared to attend more talks "in the right circumstances."
But Sinn Féin has warned the government against preconditions for the talks.But Sinn Féin has warned the government against preconditions for the talks.
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy said there should be no delays or preconditions in beginning all-party talks.
"These talks should begin immediately," he said.
"We are approaching these talks to achieve a resolution and that should be the goal of all political parties.
"If a resolution cannot be found then the next step will be to go to the polls and call a fresh election."
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said Ms Villiers' statement had not really moved matters further along.
Ms Villiers plans to resume her discussions with the five main Stormont parties on Wednesday.Ms Villiers plans to resume her discussions with the five main Stormont parties on Wednesday.
The DUP and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) were waiting to hear Ms Villiers' address to the Commons before they would commit to round table discussions with the other parties.The DUP and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) were waiting to hear Ms Villiers' address to the Commons before they would commit to round table discussions with the other parties.
DUP leader Peter Robinson said: "We will listen to what the government has to say and we will reach conclusions as a party after that."
Resignation
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said Sinn Féin's continual denial of the IRA's existence would "kill or cure" devolution in Northern Ireland.
But Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said: "I think it is very important that, as we face into the challenges, people recognise that there really only are two choices and those are talks [with] a successful outcome, or elections."
Previous talks broke up last week after Mr Robinson stood aside as first minister of Northern Ireland.Previous talks broke up last week after Mr Robinson stood aside as first minister of Northern Ireland.
His move, and the resignation of three DUP ministers, followed a police assertion that IRA members were involved in a murder.His move, and the resignation of three DUP ministers, followed a police assertion that IRA members were involved in a murder.