Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted in Part
Embed a standard code of practice for community groups receiving public funding to tackle paramilitarism.
Recommendation
We are concerned to hear claims that paramilitary organisations act as gatekeepers within some communities and masquerade as community organisations to receive public money. The Government must embed a standard code of practice and behaviour that all community-level organisations availing of Government funding have to sign up to as part of efforts to tackle the issue of gatekeeping of funds by paramilitary groups. The Government, Northern Ireland Executive (when it is established), and the Irish Government must agree as soon as possible a common approach to engagement with, and funding of, community organisations that claim to tackle paramilitarism. Any agreement on a set of principles or protocol governing engagement with individuals who are current or former members of paramilitary organisations, or their advocates, must be reflective of the need to maintain contact for a clear and legitimate policing purpose and not indirectly fetter the PSNI in exercising their statutory duty to protect life and property. Moreover, the Committee contends that any due diligence test for those in receipt of public funding must be compliant with equality legislation. (Paragraph 92) Transition
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the risk of paramilitary gatekeeping, stating that existing funding mechanisms have conditions and a behaviours framework is in place. It supports the adoption of this framework and is undertaking wider work to consider how similar frameworks can be implemented across non-Executive funding.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The UK Government acknowledges the importance of addressing the risk of paramilitary gatekeeping in communities, and of ensuring that public funding aimed at supporting community organisations does not fall into the control of paramilitary groups. As a condition of EPPOC funding, all recipients must state their agreement that it will be used in a manner that is consistent with and upholds a set of Programme values. If deemed necessary following investigation, investment can be withdrawn if the recipient is deemed to have contradicted these values. In addition, a behaviours framework has been developed and implemented by the Communities in Transition project which provides for remedial action if expected behaviours are not met. The UK Government strongly supports the sharing of this behaviours framework and its adoption as a model for managing risks around funding allocations made across the wider public sector. The UK Government is taking forward wider work to understand how non-Executive funding (for example UK Government, international and philanthropic funding) is being used in areas where there is paramilitary harm, and to consider how a similar framework and more effective coordination can be implemented across these wider funding mechanisms to help to manage this risk.