The British and Irish governments should pursue direct engagement with paramilitary organisations to facilitate their transition away from illegal activity, according to a conflict resolution expert commissioned to assess the feasibility of such an approach.
A report published on 13 October 2026 and presented to Parliament as House of Commons paper HC 709 recommends that the two governments establish what it terms "a transition mechanism without delay". The assessment explicitly rules out financial incentives as part of any such process.
The report was commissioned by London and Dublin to determine whether direct engagement with illegal loyalist and republican groups held "merit and support". Author Fleur Ravensbergen, an expert in conflict resolution, conducted a year-long scoping exercise that included confidential meetings with representatives of paramilitary organisations, as well as consultations with victims' groups and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). She emphasised that her findings do not constitute a security assessment.
What support exists for this approach?
Ravensbergen found "moderate but sufficient support" among stakeholders for the governments to explore direct engagement with paramilitaries, though she stressed this should only proceed if specific conditions are met. Those conditions include an absolute prohibition on financial rewards to paramilitary members, credible independent monitoring of any transition progress, and robust law enforcement action to maintain security.
The proposed mechanism would provide an authorised point of contact between governments and paramilitary groups, develop a common transition framework, and monitor, verify and report progress. Ravensbergen recommended that this body be independent and time-bound in its operation.
What did paramilitary groups say?
During her consultations, Ravensbergen reported that none of the paramilitary representatives she met raised direct financial payments or early release from prison as conditions for progressing towards transition. However, the main dissident republican groups did not engage significantly with the scoping exercise. The New IRA was briefed that no talks had taken place, while Óglaigh na hÉireann sent a delegation to an initial meeting but did not continue engagement.
The report indicates there was significant willingness to engage among loyalist and republican paramilitary groups, though support for "disbandment" as the specific endpoint was more limited. Objections appeared to concern the terminology rather than the intended outcomes of the transition process.
Why act now?
Ravensbergen made a forceful case for prompt government action.
I believe that the risks of the persistence of paramilitary structures, continued drift and unmanaged fragmentation outweigh the risks associated with attempting a structured and time-bound transition process. Inaction is not a neutral option. My consultations suggest that a window of opportunity exists to pursue further progress, but that this may weaken over time.
She argued that the current moment represents a critical juncture, with receptiveness among stakeholders that may not persist indefinitely. The persistence of paramilitary structures, she contended, poses greater dangers than the risks inherent in attempting a managed transition.
What additional measures are recommended?
Beyond the transition mechanism itself, Ravensbergen recommended strengthening neighbourhood policing and sustaining initiatives for young people in communities affected by paramilitary harm. These complementary measures are intended to address the underlying conditions that allow paramilitary organisations to maintain influence and recruit members.
What is the broader context?
This report follows sustained concern about paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland. The Independent Reporting Commission's December 2025 eighth report concluded that dedicated attention, resources and focus remained necessary to end paramilitary activity across the region. That assessment underscored the scale of the challenge that any transition mechanism would need to address.
What happens next?
The UK and Irish governments are now urged to develop the proposed independent, time-bound transition mechanism. The report calls for it to be established without delay, though no formal timeline has been announced. The governments must decide whether to accept Ravensbergen's recommendations and, if so, how to operationalise the proposed framework while maintaining the strict conditions she has outlined.
Key Facts:
- The report recommends direct government engagement with paramilitaries but explicitly rules out financial rewards
- Ravensbergen found "moderate but sufficient support" among stakeholders for exploring this approach
- Main dissident republican groups did not significantly engage with the scoping exercise
- The proposed transition mechanism should be independent, time-bound, and include robust law enforcement safeguards
- Additional measures should include strengthened neighbourhood policing and youth initiatives in affected communities
