Investing.com -- The governments of Britain and Ireland are planning to evaluate the feasibility of initiating discussions with active and criminally involved paramilitary organizations in Northern Ireland, as per a statement made by Britain's minister for the region on Tuesday.

The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC), an agency tasked with monitoring paramilitary activities, announced on Tuesday that these groups continue to wield influence over certain communities through methods such as intimidation, financial extortion, and drug trafficking.

The IRC reiterated its prior recommendation that the British and Irish governments, being the guarantors of the peace agreement, should directly engage with these paramilitary groups. In response, the governments have decided to hire an independent expert to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine the potential value of such a formal process.

Britain's Northern Ireland minister, Hilary Benn, clarified in a statement that this does not mark the beginning of a formal process. He further emphasized that there would be no financial incentives offered to these groups as a trade-off for ceasing violent activities.

However, this proposal has been met with skepticism from Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long. She expressed a lack of confidence in the proposition, stating that it could potentially jeopardize the political and policing efforts that are currently succeeding in discrediting the damage caused by these groups.

Long, who also leads the cross-community Alliance Party, voiced her concerns to reporters, stating, "I think it is madness... I think it sets a dangerous precedent." She further questioned the governments' approach, asking how individuals living under the oppressive control of these paramilitary groups would feel about the governments' decision to engage with them.

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