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IRA 'army council' still exists but has 'wholly political focus' IRA 'army council' still exists but has 'wholly political focus'
(35 minutes later)
The IRA's ruling body, the 'army council' still exists, but has a "wholly political focus", says the Northern Ireland secretary.The IRA's ruling body, the 'army council' still exists, but has a "wholly political focus", says the Northern Ireland secretary.
Theresa Villiers was detailing the findings of an official assessment of paramilitary activity in NI.Theresa Villiers was detailing the findings of an official assessment of paramilitary activity in NI.
In response, the DUP said its ministers who resigned from Stormont would now return to office. Following her statement, the DUP said its ministers who resigned from Stormont would now return to office.
They resigned when police blamed members of the IRA for killing a man in Belfast in August.They resigned when police blamed members of the IRA for killing a man in Belfast in August.
The report was commissioned following the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr.The report was commissioned following the murder of Kevin McGuigan Sr.
The police's belief that current IRA members were involved in the killing led to a political crisis.The police's belief that current IRA members were involved in the killing led to a political crisis.
Sinn Féin insists that the Provisional IRA has gone away and no longer exists.Sinn Féin insists that the Provisional IRA has gone away and no longer exists.
The report was compiled by the police and the security service, MI5.The report was compiled by the police and the security service, MI5.
Speaking in the House of Commons, she said the assessment showed the IRA and other main paramilitary groups that operated during the Troubles still existed.Speaking in the House of Commons, she said the assessment showed the IRA and other main paramilitary groups that operated during the Troubles still existed.
The Northern Ireland secretary said that even if these groups wanted to return to terrorism "they would be unable to resurrect the capability demonstrated at their peak".The Northern Ireland secretary said that even if these groups wanted to return to terrorism "they would be unable to resurrect the capability demonstrated at their peak".
Key points of the reportKey points of the report
Ms Villiers said while the security assessment states that Provisional IRA members believe that the 'army council' oversees both the IRA and Sinn Féin with an overarching strategy, it judges this has a "wholly political focus".Ms Villiers said while the security assessment states that Provisional IRA members believe that the 'army council' oversees both the IRA and Sinn Féin with an overarching strategy, it judges this has a "wholly political focus".
The Northern Ireland secretary told MPs the police and MI5 assessment showed that the IRA "is not involved in targeting or conducting terrorist attacks against the state".The Northern Ireland secretary told MPs the police and MI5 assessment showed that the IRA "is not involved in targeting or conducting terrorist attacks against the state".
She added that some individual IRA members remain involved in criminal activity, such as large scale smuggling.She added that some individual IRA members remain involved in criminal activity, such as large scale smuggling.
In a statement, the DUP said: "This report largely confirms the assessment of the chief constable, in August, when he indicated that IRA structures existed and that members and former members had been involved in illegal activity though not sanctioned by the leadership who he stated were wedded to the peace process.
"We sought an up to date assessment by the PSNI and security services to inform our future decisions. That is now available to us. It confirms the Chief Constable's August statement rather than the contradictory implications that flowed from the arrest of Bobby Storey and on that basis ministers will be appointed to office later today."
Mr Storey, a former IRA prisoner, is the northern chairman of Sinn Féin.
He was one of three senior republicans arrested and later released without charge in connection with the murder of Mr McGuigan.
Responding to the assessment, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Sinn Féin is now the only organisation involved in the republican struggle.Responding to the assessment, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Sinn Féin is now the only organisation involved in the republican struggle.
"Republicans who support the Good Friday Agreement support the political institutions, support the peace process and don't represent a threat to anyone in the community," he said."Republicans who support the Good Friday Agreement support the political institutions, support the peace process and don't represent a threat to anyone in the community," he said.
"There are, of course, enormous and urgent issues to be dealt with around the existence of armed groups, paramilitaries and criminality."There are, of course, enormous and urgent issues to be dealt with around the existence of armed groups, paramilitaries and criminality.
"We all have a responsibility to deal with these issues to tackle criminality and bring paramilitarism to an end and Sinn Féin will play a full part in this important work.""We all have a responsibility to deal with these issues to tackle criminality and bring paramilitarism to an end and Sinn Féin will play a full part in this important work."
In respect of loyalist paramilitaries, Ms Villiers said the assessment showed the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force had access to some weapons, despite both organisations decommissioning in in 2009 and 2010. In respect of loyalist paramilitaries, Ms Villiers said the assessment showed the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force had access to some weapons, despite both organisations decommissioning in 2009 and 2010.
She said members, including some senior figures were involved in organised crime.She said members, including some senior figures were involved in organised crime.
The DUP MP, Nigel Dodds, said the continuing existence of the IRA was "totally unacceptable".The DUP MP, Nigel Dodds, said the continuing existence of the IRA was "totally unacceptable".
"It is beyond high time that it was ended in all its forms - terrorism and criminality," he said."It is beyond high time that it was ended in all its forms - terrorism and criminality," he said.