§ 26. Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the sources of(a) political and (b) financial support for the Real IRA. [25656]
§ Jane KennedyA clear distinction needs to be made between the expression of political attitudes, opinions and beliefs and the actual commission or instigation of terrorist crime. The Real IRA remains a proscribed organisation. The Government believe that the Real IRA and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement are inextricably linked. However, on the basis of the evidence currently available, the Government assess that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement is not concerned in terrorism.
318WAny assessment of the financial support for the Real IRA would inevitably rely on intelligence. It is the Government's policy not to comment on such matters.