UK Northern Secretary tightlipped about Provisional IRA's Army Council

The UK's Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers is refusing to say whether or not she knows who is on the Provisional IRA's Army Council.

Yesterday's report by the PSNI and MI5 claims the IRA still maintains an army council and has control over Sinn Féin.

The report has said the group is committed to the peace process, but individual members are engaged in criminal activity including smuggling.

Theresa Villiers is calling for paramilitary organisations to be monitored and gradually phased out.

But she won't say whether or not she knows who is on the IRA's Army Council.

“Obviously, I see some highly classified and confidential briefings which I am not able to share with the public,” Ms Villiers said.

“But I think there is a case for fair work to be done on these matters and I think the only way that we can really effectively ensure that is done and people have confidence in it is if we do restore some form of formal monitoring process.”