Debate contribution: Tackling Paramilitarism
Debate contribution by Mrs Linda Dillon on .
- MLA
- Mrs Linda Dillon
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 15 October 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Opposition Business
- Heading
- Tackling Paramilitarism
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4592570
Read the official Assembly record
Text
It has been 30 years since the loyalist ceasefires and 26 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which provided a historic and inclusive political process aimed at ending conflict and building a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for everyone across our society. The process offered everyone in our society a path away from violence, a path that should have been and needs to be embraced by all. Yet, here we are, decades later, still dealing with the scourge of paramilitarism in our community. There is no place in our society for paramilitary groups; there is no role for paramilitary groups; and there is no excuse for the continued existence of those groups. The peace process laid down the path, and anyone who continues to hold on to paramilitarism does so at the expense of our community, our future and the prosperity of our people. Sadly, paramilitarism has not disappeared; indeed, it has mutated, as is outlined in the motion, from an ideology to a front for criminality, control and criminal gangs engaging in drug dealing, extortion, moneylending, sexual exploitation and violent intimidation. We hear about that all too often at the Policing Board. They prey on the very people whom they claim to defend, suffocate community cohesion and crush economic development. Despite the tireless efforts of genuine community activists, the PSNI's paramilitary task force and the tackling paramilitarism programme, the groups persist, and their persistence has caused enormous harm. For far too long, there has been a level of tolerance of those groups that is simply intolerable, and we must be bold enough to say, "Enough is enough". Those criminal gangs have no democratic mandate and no place in the governance of the North. Their influence is toxic, undermines the rule of law and erodes the foundation of our democracy. I support the motion. It is crucial that we put an end to paramilitary activity once and for all. The harm that they inflict on our community is profound. They foster fear and stifle investment and economic opportunity and a democratic, peaceful way forward. We need to ensure that everyone in our community benefits from that peaceful way forward and that they see their place in it. We need to ensure that they feel their place and that they see a safer, more prosperous and united future for all our people.
394 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.07 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.54).
- Subject area: Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.08 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.06 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.07 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.04 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.55 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.07 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.54 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.46 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.97 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.02 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:26 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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