The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) has done a timely service for the people of this island by conducting an evaluation of republican and loyalist paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland, and outlining their criminal activities and their control of local communities through intimidation and punishment beatings.
It is easy to forget that behind insistent demands by some political parties for recognition of democratic mandates lie ruthless organisations, involved in murder and other criminal activities, that have no place in a civilised society.
The IMC explained that its report was to help the people of Northern Ireland to leave the Troubles behind and to end the stranglehold paramilitary organisations exercised over local communities. They had to move the political debate on from talking about ceasefires and possible breaches of them, it said, to one that concentrated on the total illegality of paramilitary activity. In that regard, it found the level of loyalist paramilitary violence, including murder and other criminality, had actually increased since the Belfast Agreement was signed, and that loyalist groups were now responsible for markedly higher levels of violence than republicans. And while most republican paramilitaries had stopped targeting the security forces, their fund-raising and criminal activities within the nationalist community had grown.
Insisting that political parties should not in any way benefit from, nor be associated with, illegal activity, the IMC believed that members of Sinn Féin, including senior members, held positions within the Provisional IRA. In the same way, it concluded the leadership of the Progressive Unionist Party had close personal links with the UVF and the Red Hand Commandos and was aware of their paramilitary activities. Had the Assembly been functioning, it said, sanctions against the two parties "up to and possibly including exclusion from office" would have been recommended. In existing circumstances, it proposed a reduction in public funding.
On the face of it, the financial penalty imposed yesterday by the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, was of little consequence. But the reason for imposing it was significant because the IMC will report again on these issues in six months time. If there has been no change in the symbiotic relationship between Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA and paramilitary activity remains unchecked, then the prospect for successful inter-party negotiations and republicans being readmitted to government is bleak.
The two Governments have already postponed the proximity talks due to take place next week. And, while discussions have been tentatively rescheduled for next month, the focus on paramilitarism could push them into the autumn. The governments appear to lack a grand strategy for the re-establishment of devolved government. There is a danger of political drift if the governments do not drive all political elements forward.