Stormont crisis: Irish minister discusses new paramilitary watchdog plan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34268740

Version 0 of 1.

Irish Foreign Minister, Charlie Flanagan, said he intends to discuss in more detail a proposal for a "type of oversight" on paramilitary activity.

He said he hoped it will supply more confidence so the Stormont parties can "re-engage and do business".

Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has said the government will seriously consider reviving the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC).

The IMC previously assessed the state of the IRA and loyalist ceasefires.

The political crisis at Stormont was sparked by a police assessment that members of the Provisional IRA members were involved in the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr in Belfast last month.

On his way into Stormont House, Mr Flanagan said he and Ms Villiers were exploring avenues to ensure all the parties get together in round-table talks.

He said there was "more work to do" before the negotiations could move from bi-lateral to all-party talks, but added he believed a solution was possible.

"I believe the resolve is there. What we haven't, as yet, done is find an avenue or a clear path to bring everybody around the table."

Mr Flanagan added that all-party, round-table talks were the "only manner in which we are going to find a resolution to the current impasse" and urged the parties to work together.

The story of Stormont's crisis

Read more on how the crisis unfolded

Ms Villiers told the House of Commons on Tuesday that establishing new body to monitor paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland could help mend the stalled peace process.

The IMC, was set up in 2004 to monitor paramilitary activity and the normalisation of security measures in Northern Ireland, but its work was brought to an end in 2011.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Flanagan said: "There has been a form of proposal, we haven't as yet considered the detail.

"I look forward this morning [Wednesday] and in the course of the day to discuss how we can put detail on a type of oversight that will supply the appropriate level of confidence for the parties to reengage and do business."