Archbishop Harper comments on latest IMC report
The 22nd report of the Independent Monitoring Commission was released on Wednesday 4th November. Below is the statement issued by The Most Rev Alan Harper OBE, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.
"The assessment released yesterday by the Independent Monitoring Commission makes grim reading. In my recent Synod address I expressed serious concern about rising levels of tension in the community as a result of hostile activity perpetrated by groups that refuse to accept the commitment to peaceful and democratic processes clearly expressed by all the people of Ireland. I also indicated particular concern about the threats posed by emergent dissident groups to vulnerable young people. It is imperative that further progress now be made to build confidence in the stability and the efficacy of local political institutions. Confidence building measures include completion of the process required for the devolution of policing and justice powers, together with renewed efforts to resolve outstanding difficulties surrounding contentious parades. We need to show clearly that devolved politics works and so deny to those who wish to take us back to the darkness of the past any justification, legitimate or otherwise, for their actions."
About the IMC The Independent Monitoring Commission was set up by the British and Irish Governments on 7th January 2004. Its purpose is to help promote the establishment of stable and inclusive devolved government in a peaceful Northern Ireland. It does this by reporting to the Governments on activity by paramilitary groups, on the normalisation of security measures in the province, and on claims by Assembly parties that other parties, or Ministers in a devolved Executive, are not living up to the standards required of them. The four Commissioners are entirely independent of both Governments.