THE IRISH and British governments are considering the findings of the Independent Monitoring Commission which has completed its final report on paramilitary activity.
The two governments have confirmed this will be the IMC’s concluding report and its work will cease at the end of this month.
The report will summarise the IMC’s body of work since it was formed in 2004 and will summarise the lessons learned over the past seven years.
A short statement released by the commission, which has offices in Belfast and Dublin, said: “The 26th and final report of the Independent Monitoring Commission has been presented today to the British and Irish governments. The report documents changes, impact and lessons during the period from January 2004 – March 2011.
The IMC was charged with monitoring the paramilitary ceasefires and also overseeing the security “normalisation” process, including the phased demilitarisation of the British army presence.
The IMC normally holds a press conference in Belfast to release its findings within days of handing reports to the two governments. However, an IMC spokeswoman said there were no immediate plans to publish the final report this week.
Recent reports have concentrated on the dissident republican threat, but the four commissioners have also been keen to highlight the contrast between the much improved security situation now and seven years ago.
In its last report in November, the IMC said: “It remains our view . . . that in terms of weapons, money, personnel and support, the present dissident campaign in no way matches the range and tempo of the Provisional IRA campaign of the Troubles.
“The high level of dissident activity would undoubtedly have led to many more deaths, injuries and destruction had it not been for the operations of the law enforcement and security agencies North and South and their ever close cross-Border co-operation.”
The four commissioners include former Alliance party leader Lord Alderdice, former CIA deputy director Richard Kerr, the retired deputy assistant commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police John Grieve, and Joe Brosnan, former secretary general of the Department of Justice.
Sinn Féin said last night the governments’ paramilitary watchdog would not be missed.