Statement by Peter Robinson on the publication of the Eleventh Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), (8 September 2006)

Statement by Peter Robinson, then Deputy Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), on the publication of the Eleventh Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC), (8 September 2006)

"The publication of today’s Independent Monitoring Commission report provides a limited opportunity to scrutinise the present status and activity of the various paramilitary groups.

We note the progress that has been made but remain mindful of the indication that much more work needs to be done particularly in relation to criminality, before the Provisional IRA and other groupings can be said to be removed as a threat to the people of Northern Ireland. If, as the IMC indicate, IRA discipline is needed to maintain "the organisation on its chosen path", then this is a clear indication that republicans have not yet reached the stage where their natural tendency is to opt for exclusively peaceful and democratic means and, therefore, the transition is not complete.

The DUP will look to the forthcoming October IMC report and subsequent reports that will provide a more detailed analysis of the behaviour of these terrorist and criminal organisations.

Policies pursued in the past by pushover unionists failed to force republicans to commit to exclusively peaceful and democratic means. The DUP’s policy of holding out for a complete end to all terrorist and criminal activity and the removal of the IRA has made it crystal clear to republicans that second best will not do. The value of that policy can be seen in the progress that has been made and its success points to the need to keep it in place until the transition is complete. Our absolute determination to maintain democratic integrity has been a vital ingredient in ensuring that nothing short of completion will suffice."