Justice Minister Naomi Long has branded plans by the UK and Irish governments to explore formal engagement with paramilitary groups as “madness”.
She said the only message for paramilitaries was that it was time to leave the stage.
The governments are considering appointing an independent figure to examine whether formal engagement is needed to encourage groups to disband, while pressuring those not on ceasefire, such as the New IRA, to end violence.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn made the announcement after the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) published its latest report, calling for the appointment for a trusted intermediary to oversee transitioning.
Mr Benn suggested moves are underway to appoint that person, who will “carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment.”
But Mrs Long said she had “no confidence” in the plan.
“Could you imagine the Government engaging in this way with any other criminal gang?” she said.
“It is unthinkable. I think it is madness, I don’t think it will work because I don’t believe there are barriers to those who wish to stop.
“I think to have an interlocutor is to suggest at some level there is some conversation to be had.
“The only conversation to be had with paramilitaries at this point of time is to tell them they need to exit the stage.”
The Independent Reporting Commission has published its Sixth Report on progress towards ending paramilitary activity
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However, Mr Benn said the “scoping exercise” is not an alternative to “existing law enforcement and criminal justice measures and the wider effort through the Executive programme to tackle the ongoing violence and harm caused by paramilitary groups”.
He also confirmed that “no financial offer” will be made to paramilitary groups “or to the individuals involved in them in exchange for an end to violence and ongoing harms”.
There is as yet no indication who that expert will be, with the Secretary of State confirming he will write to the NI Affairs Committee to set out more detail.
UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said the decision was “the right one, but also a difficult one”.
“This is not about conferring legitimacy on these gangs, nor should it be about buying them out. It’s not about money,” he added.
“It’s about removing a large remaining obstacle to creating a normal society, where citizens do not need to look over their shoulders as they get on with their lives.”
Alliance Party Sorcha Eastwood was also critical, saying it is “well beyond time those engaged in paramilitarism left the stage”.
The latest IRC report was completed prior to the attempted murder of taxi driver Sean O’Reilly on Sunday. It is being linked to a dissident republican feud.
The shooting is thought to have been carried out by renegade members of Oglaigh na hEireann, despite the group being officially on ceasefire.
The IRC comprises four commissioners: John McBurney and Monica McWilliams, who were nominated by the Northern Ireland Executive, Tim O’Connor, nominated by the Irish Government, and Mitchell Reiss, nominated by the UK Government.
They warned that incidents such as Sunday’s shooting, only emphasise the need for a formal process to end paramilitary activity.
The commissioners said: “There has been a decrease in shooting incidents and paramilitary-style assaults.
“However, bombing incidents and casualties from paramilitary-style shootings have remained consistent with previous years. Intimidation, coercive control and threats linked to paramilitary groups persist and remain a real concern.”
They added: “In 2024, we have seen shifting dynamics within both republican and loyalist paramilitary groups, including changes in leadership, reported splits, speculation about possible feuds, ongoing questions about whether actions were sanctioned by paramilitary leaders, various interpretations of larger gatherings of people, and increasing interactions with organised crime.
“We understand that this can be challenging for the PSNI and others in attributing responsibility for, or involvement in, certain actions.”
The IRC said that where there is paramilitary involvement it must be called out.
They now call for a “third dimension” to complement that, adding: “We welcome the progress being made by the two Governments towards implementing our recommendation to appoint an independent person who would scope out what a possible formal process of engagement and group transition might look like.”
Tanaiste Simon Harris said the IRC report “makes clear the unacceptable reality that paramilitary-linked intimidation, coercive control and threats continue to exist and impact communities in Northern Ireland”.
“We need to be sure we are doing absolutely everything possible to bring that to an end,” he said.
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said: “Partnership working is an imperative element in our pursuit to tackle this kind of criminality, which we know creates fear in local communities.
“This will not be tolerated and we will continue to ensure that robust enforcement is at the forefront of our approach to dealing with paramilitarism.”