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Funding for disadvantaged loyalist communities in Northern Ireland will help avert violence during Irish reunification, a Senator has said.<\/p>\nFunding for disadvantaged loyalist communities in Northern Ireland will help avert violence during Irish reunification, a Senator has said.<\/p>\n
Fianna F\u00e1il’s Mark Daly, who has compiled a number of research reports on preparing for a united Ireland, says international best practice dictates that Irish and British governments, along with the EU, should prepare now to pre-empt paramilitary recruitment in young people if Ireland votes to reunify.<\/p>\n
The possibility of a return to loyalist violence has been discussed as a direct result of any Irish reunification.<\/p>\n
During his research, Mr Daly heard contributions from unionist politicians, loyalists, community leaders, and former soldiers who identified paramilitarism as a concern in the event of a united Ireland.<\/p>\n
Mr Daly says only funding and education for the most vulnerable children and young people will actively stem the problem before it arises.<\/p>\n
In one report, Uniting Ireland and its People in Peace and Prosperity, there is a submission from a former US diplomat and deputy counter-terrorism coordinator, Michael R Ortiz, who says that the best practice for countering violent extremism is a \u201cwhole of community approach\u201d which should be prioritized ahead of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to consider the ways in which future violence could be prevented, including by strengthening counter-terrorism and law enforcement efforts, supporting civil society organizations and providing citizens with the tools they need to intervene during the radicalization process,\u201d Mr Ortiz said.<\/p>\n
The former director of legislative affairs at the US National Security Council made three recommendations for countering extremism in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
A national level task force, including local leaders, civil society, with national and local officials.<\/p>\n
This task force should develop a national strategy for countering violent extremism, which should include a wide range of voices.<\/p>\n
To implement the strategy, an individual body should be created, with clear metrics for progress and ongoing engagement with communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Ireland is able to launch a transparent, open and inclusive process with strong mechanisms, I believe this will go a long way in working to prevent terrorism before it starts,\u201d Mr Oritz said.<\/p>\n
Senator Daly says that the 17 recommendations from the Irish parliament Good Friday Agreement Committee have still not been acted on almost three years on, and in turn will create issues for what he calls \u201cinevitable\u201d Irish unity.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly 60% of the unionist community believe Northern Ireland will be part of the UK in 10 years, according to the Ashcroft Poll,\u201d Mr Daly said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSix year-olds today will be living through that process and it\u2019s likely that if they do not have that assistance, they will be exploited.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do we prevent the most disadvantaged children being exploited by, what are essentially are criminals, masquerading with a cause?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to invest in education and employment and giving them a future, if we don\u2019t do this now there will be consequences.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolicy neglect in this area seldom goes unpunished, this need to be done now, early, and not in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need engagement from the US, the EU and governments, there are experts ready and willing to help set up such a task force.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll that requires a plan, to identify where the money needs to go and look for the money to fund it, and it requires decades of funding to ensure those disadvantaged areas are targeted with the help they need, because those kids will most likely suffer the most and be exploited.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you know that there is likely to be problem, we need to address it before a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n