'Benefits to the IRA remaining in existence' says Bertie Ahern

Bertie Ahern has said there could be benefits to the IRA remaining in existence, as it helps to control the spread of dissident republicans.

The former Taoiseach was reacting to yesterday's reports which found that the IRA Army Council still exists, but remains committed to peace.

Enda Kenny said there is now no room for so-called creative ambiguity which allowed paramilitary organisations to remain in place.

Bertie Ahern said he agrees, but said there are some unintended benefits to the IRA's continued existence.

“The report in three sections said what I have previously said that there were pluses to some of the structures being in place.

MI5 have said that and PSNI have said that.”

However, the Garda Representative Association has said increased criminal activity in border areas is a direct consequence of funding cuts to the Gardai and yesterday, a British government investigation was published, which found that former members of the Provisional IRA have moved onto other dissident groups or criminal enterprises.

Vice President of the GRA, Ciaran O'Neill, said organised crime gangs are exploiting the cut in Garda numbers in border areas.

But he said reduced funding to the force is having an impact across the country:

“Unfortunately, around the border we’ve seen that organised crime are exploiting the reduction in our Garda numbers. I suppose since 2010 every border county has suffered a loss of Gardaí and my figures come in at around 300

Gardaí are less now than in 2010. If you don’t invest in policing consequences will come of it. An increase in crime is the biggest consequence for not investing in our policing.”