The UK and Irish governments are to explore formal engagement with paramilitary groups to help bring about their disbandment.

They are to appoint an independent expert to assess whether there is merit and support for the idea.

In a statement, Secretary of State Hilary Benn said: “I want to be clear that this is not the start of a formal process itself.

“This scoping exercise is also not a part of, nor an alternative to, the existing law enforcement and criminal justice measures.

“I also want to be clear that no financial offer will be made to paramilitary groups or to the individuals involved in them in exchange for an end to violence and ongoing harms.”

The proposal was suggested by the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC), which monitors police and government efforts to tackle paramilitarism.

The UK government said in 2023 the idea was under serious consideration.

The IRC’s latest report was published on Tuesday.

It said the appointment is “a vital step in the journey towards completing the goal of ending paramilitarism in Northern Ireland once and for all”.

Multiple republican and loyalist organisations remain active almost 30 years after the Good Friday Agreement.

Dissident republican groups, such as the New IRA, who oppose the peace deal, continue to target police officers.

Also, groups aligned to the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA) are heavily involved in criminality.

Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris said the IRC report “makes clear the unacceptable reality that paramilitary-linked intimidation, coercive control and threats continue to exist and impact communities in Northern Ireland.

“We need to be sure we are doing absolutely everything possible to bring that to an end.”

He added: “We are pleased to announce that we have agreed to jointly appoint an independent expert in the period ahead to carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment.

“It is my hope that this initiative will advance us towards our shared objective of ending paramilitarism once and for all.”