SDLP: Paramilitaries must leave the stage

matthew o'toole Paramilitaries Opposition Day

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has called for the Executive to force paramilitaries to leave the stage.

He was speaking ahead of an SDLP Opposition Day motion on Tuesday.

It calls on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to introduce a comprehensive review of the Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime Programme.

South Belfast MLA Mr O’Toole said:

“Paramilitaries should not be playing an active part in life in Northern Ireland in 2024. Thirty years ago today the loyalist ceasefire was declared with every paramilitary grouping ceasing violence, yet we are still in a situation where these groups exert coercive control over their communities, run large-scale criminal enterprises and even seek to have the ear of Executive Ministers.

“The seemingly never- ending transition process must come to an end with a clear, unambiguous full-stop on the existence and taxpayer indulgence of these structures.

"We care deeply about improving the lives of people in working class loyalist communities. Which is why we want Stormont to focus on freeing those communities from the grip of illegal organisations who only seek to exert power or make money from ordinary people. And they do so without any electoral mandate.

“The Executive has totally failed to deal with the scourge of paramilitarism, passing the buck from department to department when it comes to so much as taking down a paramilitary flag. The SDLP Opposition is bringing this motion forward on Tuesday so that we can have a transparent discussion on this issue and so that parties can clearly outline their views on ending the insidious influence of paramilitarism. We believe that the best way to achieve this is through a comprehensive review on tackling paramilitarism and we believe the Executive must commit to getting these groups off the stage once and for all.”

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