§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the Provisional IRA is still involved in recruiting, re-arming, training, targeting and punishment beatings; and, if so, in what activities. [HL950]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)We continue to judge that the PIRA ceasefire remains in place but, as the Prime Minister made clear in his speech in Belfast on 17 October, in the Government's view the IRA remains an active paramilitary organisation. We cannot tolerate paramilitary activity in any form. Everyone has to make a commitment to achieving their objectives by exclusively peaceful means—real, total and permanent.