United Kingdom wants report on paramilitaries amid N. Ireland crisis

It will be published by mid-October to inform the five main parties’ discussions and conclusions of the multiparty talks, she added.

Allegations of ongoing IRA activity – particularly surrounding the murder of the former republican prisoner Kevin McGuigan – have pushed Stormont’s power-sharing coalition to the brink of collapse.

“Recent events have highlighted the continuing impact and legacy of paramilitary organizations in Northern Ireland”.

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said they had made it clear to Ms Villiers they needed “paramilitarism and organised crime” at the top of the agenda.

In a further move, which comes in the wake of the DUP and Ulster Unionists demanding the new National Crime Agency be allowed to take on paramilitary linked crime gangs in Northern Ireland, Ms Villiers revealed a funding boost for crime fighters.

But one of the key planks of that deal was undermined last month when police said the IRA was likely involved in the murder of a former operative, despite assurances from allies Sinn Fein, which shares power in parliament, that the group had “left the stage”.

The three person panel, appointed by Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers, will examine findings from the security agencies such as MI5 and police on the structure, role and objective of proscribed organisations.

She is also establishing a fund to “tackle links between paramilitary organisations and organised crime” and pledged to work closely with the Government on cross-Border criminality.

The identities of these people will be announced early next week.

She said: “It will support agencies to enhance specialist capabilities such as forensic accounting to strengthen their capacity to seize criminal assets”.

Mr Robinson added: “I want to see good, effective government in Northern Ireland“.

Talks with the administrations in Belfast and Dublin on how best to tackle cross-border crime such as fuel laundering and smuggling will also be established.

“Today’s statement by the Secretary of State is a welcome first step in demonstrating that the government are taking our concerns seriously”, Robinson said speaking at Stormont on Friday.

He said his party “recognise the Secretary of State is now taking action to address the two concerns we had raised” and will enter next week’s talks.

In the fallout from the murder of Mr McGuigan and the subsequent arrest and release of Sinn Féin Northern chairman Bobby Storey, Mr Robinson stepped aside from his role and withdrew his ministers from government, except for Arlene Foster, who will continue as Minister for Finance and Acting First Minister.

Negotiations restart on Monday between Northern Ireland’s five main parties and will be co-hosted by the secretary of state and the Irish foreign minister, Charles Flanagan.

“We will work with the other parties to tackle the issue of armed groups, which want to drag us back to the past including active unionist paramilitaries and armed republican dissidents, and organised criminals who are a blight on the community”, he said.

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton said: “The PSNI will provide full co-operation and support to all the measures that have been outlined”.

Stormont Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness tweeted: “Pleased that unionist leaders will be present for vital, inclusive talks on Monday”.