Government says IMC backs stance on IRA

The Government said today's Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) report supported its view and the view of the British government that the IRA and Sinn Féin are involved in crime in Northern Ireland.

"The conclusions drawn by the Independent Commission concur with the intelligence available to both Governments in relation to the Northern Bank robbery and other incidents in Northern Ireland," a statement from the Taoiseach's office said.

"The Government remains committed to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as the best way of ensuring a peaceful society and a stable political situation in Northern Ireland.

"The Government will continue to work with all of the parties to achieve that aim. However, the findings of the report underline the clear need for the issue of IRA paramilitarism, including all forms of criminal activity, to be resolved satisfactorily for once and for all," the statement said.

The British government is expected to stall publication of its response to the IMC report for over a week to let tempers cool.

The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, pointed out that the report states some of the "household names" of Sinn Féin were also members of the IRA Army Council. "The report speaks for itself - as long Sinn Féin is linked to the IRA and the IRA is carrying out illegal activity then Sinn Féin can't be admitted to an exclusively democratic process.

"The ball is now firmly in the court of the provisional movement. Whatever we do now must be constructive."

The Democratic Unionist deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, today criticised the failure of the IMC to impose political sanctions on Sinn  Féin. "To suggest financial penalties against an organisation that has just boosted its budget by £26.5 million is quite frankly laughable," he said.

Mr Robinson also claimed the commission should have been prepared to name and shame those members of Sinn Féin it said were in senior IRA positions. "Given what they are saying about Sinn Féin members' involvement in the robbery why have they not been arrested by the PSNI and questioned?"

The SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, questioned whether Sinn Féin even regarded the robberies and kidnappings as crimes. "Nobody can be above the law - not loyalists, not the state, not the IRA," he said.

"Everybody has to live by the same laws that decent, working people do. It is sickening for people who work hard for a living to see paramilitaries stealing millions for themselves."

Mr Durkan reiterated the SDLP's opposition to sanctions but said the two governments should press ahead with the implementation of much of the Belfast Agreement, regardless of the IRA.

"Just because the IRA is messing about with the agreement does not mean that we should all stay stuck. Just because we cannot get an inclusive executive established now, it does not mean that we should be left with deep suspension and direct rule."

The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, welcomed the report and said the IMC was right to state that it would be right to suspend Sinn Féin from the Assembly and Executive had it been sitting. "In this context I call for the Assembly to be resumed straight away," he said.

Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny described the report's findings as a "searing indictment" of Sinn Féin and the IRA. He called for the Criminal Assets Bureau to pursue the proceeds of IRA crime.

"I believe that a much more direct approach is required to pursue the proceeds of these robberies and other IRA crimes," he said. "I believe that the Criminal Assets Bureau should be directed to pursue the assets of those in this jurisdiction who have benefited from such criminality, as has happened in respect of illegal drugs in recent years."

The Labour Party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, accused the Sinn Féin leadership of being in "a permanent state of self-denial" about IRA involvement in crime. "As I said last week, it is make-your-mind-up time for Sinn Féin," he said.

Additional reporting: PA