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Stormont crisis: Paramilitary monitoring body may 'mend stalled talks' Stormont crisis: Paramilitary monitoring body may 'mend stalled talks'
(about 5 hours later)
Establishing a new body to monitor paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland could help mend the stalled peace process, Theresa Villiers has said.Establishing a new body to monitor paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland could help mend the stalled peace process, Theresa Villiers has said.
The Northern Ireland Secretary told the House of Commons that the situation in Northern Ireland was "very grave".The Northern Ireland Secretary told the House of Commons that the situation in Northern Ireland was "very grave".
But the DUP leader Peter Robinson called her words "a holding statement".But the DUP leader Peter Robinson called her words "a holding statement".
Her "commitment to respond to concerns in the coming days" would delay talks, he said.Her "commitment to respond to concerns in the coming days" would delay 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 Sr 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 (IMC)."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 (IMC).
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
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 she added it was also vital to address the differences blocking the implementation of the Stormont Agreement.But she added 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.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."These talks should begin immediately," he said.
"If people are not prepared to go into those talks, the only other option is an election. This is a farcical situation and it is becoming worse by the day.""If people are not prepared to go into those talks, the only other option is an election. This is a farcical situation and it is becoming worse by the day."
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "The words uttered in the Commons today don't really move us forward very much. But it is a process and we are keen to see a resolution."Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said: "The words uttered in the Commons today don't really move us forward very much. But it is a process and we are keen to see a resolution."
Alex Attwood, SDLP, said: "There must be no unilateral action by the British government in order to dig out the DUP from where they find themselves."Alex Attwood, SDLP, said: "There must be no unilateral action by the British government in order to dig out the DUP from where they find themselves."
"Let the government send out the message that there is no compromise on the Good Friday Agreement or the rule of law and, if we proceed on that basis, then those who have held up these talks and held up this island might not continue to prevail."Let the government send out the message that there is no compromise on the Good Friday Agreement or the rule of law and, if we proceed on that basis, then those who have held up these talks and held up this island might not continue to prevail.
"Let the talks begin.""Let the talks begin."
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. Meanwhile, a former Northern Ireland secretary has criticised the chief constable over the police investigation into the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr.
At the beginning of her address, Ms Villiers noted the change in the Labour leadership. Interviewed for Tuesday's BBC Spotlight programme, Peter Hain contrasted George Hamilton's handling of the arrests of three leading republicans with the performance of his predecessor, Hugh Orde.
She said it would be helpful if the new shadow Northern Ireland secretary, Vernon Coaker, would confirm that "the consent principle, at the heart of the Belfast Agreement, will remain paramount". He described last year's arrest of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams as "ham fisted and clumsy".
In response, Mr Coaker said his party intended to "pursue a bipartisan approach based on the agreements reached - in particular the principle of consent". He also questioned the manner in which Bobby Storey - Sinn Féin's northern chairman - and two other leading republicans were arrested.
"Our policy remains absolutely the same," he said. They were questioned and then released without charge over Kevin McGuigan Sr's murder.
Mr Storey's arrest intensified the political crisis in Northern Ireland.
Mr Hain said he wondered if those arrests had been as carefully and sensitively handled as they might have been under Hugh Orde. He said he thought it was not the way that a chief constable should be conducting affairs.
"Arresting a chairman of Sinn Féin, as opposed to somebody involved in criminal activity, is very serious and was bound to cause the repercussions that it did amongst the unionist community," he said.