HC Deb 27 November 2002 vol 395 c294W
25. Mr. Goodman

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation. [81623]

Jane Kennedy

Dissident Republicans remain a threat to the peace process but for the most part their activities have been thwarted, intercepted or nullified by good policing operations. Sectarian violence continues to blight both communities in interface areas in Northern Ireland.

Recent activities by paramilitary groups on ceasefire have given cause for concern and the Secretary of State will continue to make judgments as set out in legislation under the Sentences Act 1998, particularly section 3(9).

However, ceasefires in themselves are not enough and we must now see a real and permanent end to the activities of all paramilitary organisations.