A report published on Tuesday recommends that the British and Irish governments should engage with paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland to negotiate their disbandment. The Independent Report on Paramilitary Group Transition to Disbandment, commissioned by both governments, suggests a "window of opportunity" exists for a formal transition mechanism for loyalist and republican groups, provided certain conditions are met.
Fleur Ravensbergen, a Dutch conflict resolution expert and author of the report, stated in Belfast that she concluded there is "sufficient merit in and support for a formal process of paramilitary group transition." She noted finding "significant willingness to engage" among paramilitaries during a year-long scoping exercise, despite limited support for the term 'disbandment' itself.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant thanked Ravensbergen and affirmed the government's commitment to ending paramilitarism. He said the government would consider the report and consult with authorities in Dublin before responding to the proposed transition mechanism. Bryant also highlighted that the implementation of any process would face challenges and require support from across Northern Ireland's political community.
The report advises against financial rewards for groups engaging in the process and states that a transition mechanism would require credible monitoring, verification of progress, and robust law enforcement. It also notes that residual paramilitary structures continue to cause harm in some communities.