The following is the full text of the Independent Monitoring Commission's statement:
We welcome the formal establishment of the Independent Monitoring Commission by the British and Irish Governments and look forward to discharging the heavy responsibilities that are now placed on us.
The IMC has been set up as a result of the joint declaration of May 2003.
It exists to help promote the establishment of stable and inclusive devolved government in a peaceful Northern Ireland. We will always make that our primary purpose.
In general terms the function of the IMC, as set out in the Agreement, is to monitor and report to the governments on the fulfilment of commitments on the cessation of paramilitary activity, on security normalisation and on commitments by Assembly members to observing the terms of their pledge of office.
The IMC is by law wholly independent and is required to be accessible to everybody.
We believe it is essential that we receive information and views from individuals and the community as a whole.
We urge people to let us have their views so that our reports can reflect the widest possible body of opinion.
We have invited Northern Ireland parties who secured seats in the recent Assembly elections to meet us. We also hope that the churches, community groups and members of the public get in touch.
We will acknowledge all the information received and will treat it on a confidential basis.
We will take account of it when preparing our reports.
It is easy to contact us by writing to the Joint Secretary of the Independent Monitoring Commission, PO Box 709, BT2 8YB, Telephone: 02890 726117, Fax: 02890 726082 or The Joint Secretary of the Independent Monitoring Commission, PO Box 9592, Dublin 1, Telephone: 01 4752555.
Or through our website: www.independentmonitoringcommission.org.
We are seeking information from the British and Irish Governments and from the agencies responsible for law enforcement in Northern Ireland and Ireland."