VZCZCXRO6343
PP RUEHBL
DE RUEHDL #1525/01 3491112
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151112Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6263
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 0040
RUEHBL/AMCONSUL BELFAST PRIORITY 0263
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001525 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
S/CT-RHONDA SHORE 
S/CT-ED SALAZAR 
NCTC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC EI
SUBJECT: IRELAND: 2005 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 193439 
     ¶B. DUBLIN 310 
     ¶C. DUBLIN 801 
     ¶D. DUBLIN 944 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
¶1. Summary.  Per ref A, Ireland was not included in the 2004 
Annual Terrorism Report, but there are positive developments 
that might merit its inclusion this year.  A remarkable 
change from 2004 is the September 26 decommissioning of the 
Provisional Irish Republican Army.  Another notable change is 
that Ireland passed new antiterrorism legislation and became 
party to four UN conventions on terrorism.  It also signed a 
Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the United States and 
came into compliance with a 2004 UN International Maritime 
Organization code.  End Summary. 
 
General Assessment 
------------------ 
 
¶2.  On March 9, the Irish government made strides in 
strengthening antiterrorism legislation when President Mary 
McAleese signed the Criminal Justice (Terrorism Offenses) 
Bill 2002 into law.  This legislation brought Ireland in line 
with United Nations Conventions and European Union Framework 
decisions on combating terrorism.  It enabled Ireland to 
ratify and accede to four UN conventions on terrorism and 
significantly strengthened the government's ability to seize 
assets and prosecute those suspected of supporting terrorism. 
Until this law passed, GOI authorities could pursue and 
prosecute suspects of terrorism, notably terrorism financing, 
only if they also had committed criminal offenses in Ireland 
or had been designated by the UN or EU.  On September 15, 
Ireland signed, subject to ratification, the International 
Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. 
 
¶3.  In July, the government completed the installation of new 
antiterror security measures at Irish international sea 
ports, bringing Ireland into compliance with the UN 
International Maritime Organization (IMO) code established in 
July 2004.  These arrangements are aimed at preventing a 
terrorist strike on Ireland or the use of Irish ports for an 
attack on another country (ref d). 
 
Sanctuary (Safe Haven) Assessments 
---------------------------------- 
 
--Islamic Extremists 
 
¶4.  Ireland's new economic prosperity has brought large 
increases in the immigrant population in the country.  This 
growth has led to concerns that some immigrants may 
potentially be involved in terrorist activities.  According 
to press reports, the Irish police and army intelligence 
officers indicate that the risk of an Islamic terrorist 
attack on Ireland is low.  The reports allege that between 24 
and 40 Islamic activists kept under surveillance by Irish 
security services are suspected of providing financial and 
logistical support to al-Qaeda and Islamic terrorists abroad. 
 These reports charge that there may be individuals and 
groups that use Ireland as a base for providing funds, fake 
identities, visas, and safe houses for terrorists as they 
plan attacks on other European countries. 
 
--Colombia Three 
 
¶5.  In August, three men who were found guilty of aiding FARC 
terrorists in Colombia, secretly returned to Ireland to 
escape government of Colombia prison sentences.  They were 
arrested and questioned by the Irish national police but 
released without charge.  The Colombian government requested 
their extradition, but as Ireland has no extradition treaty 
with Colombia, this is unlikely to happen but remains under 
review.  The Irish Director of Public Prosecutions is also 
investigating whether charges can be brought against one of 
the three for traveling on a false passport. 
 
Terrorist Groups 
---------------- 
 
IRA 
--- 
¶6.  On July 28, a spokesman for the Provisional Irish 
Republican Army (PIRA) made a statement calling for an end to 
all forms of illegal PIRA activity.  This statement was 
 
DUBLIN 00001525  002 OF 002 
 
 
confirmed on September 26 by the Independent International 
Commission on Decommissioning announcement that the Irish 
Republican Army (IRA) met its commitments to put all arms 
beyond use.  The Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) also 
reported that since the September decommissioning,  PIRA 
shows no evidence of the training and recruitment of 
terrorists or an intent to return to violence. 
 
¶7.  The IMC released reports on paramilitary activity in 
Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.  In terms of 
the Republic of Ireland, the Seventh Report of the IMC, 
published in October, analyzed continued activity of the 
following terrorist groups: 
 
--The Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) 
CIRA maintains its terrorist capacity and is capable of 
effective sporadic attacks.  The IMC reported that CIRA 
intends to continue to engage in terrorism and other crime. 
In the Republic, two CIRA members were arrested in January in 
possession of an under-car explosive and nine members were 
imprisoned for charges related to 2003 arrests.  Two members 
were also convicted of unlawful possession of firearms.  In 
December, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin charged a man 
with possession of an improvised explosive device and 
membership in an unlawful organization styling itself the 
Irish Republican Army.  Police are investigating his links to 
CIRA.  The case was still pending at the year's end. 
 
--The Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) 
RIRA also continues to be a threat.  The IMC reported that 
RIRA is committed to terrorism due to its continued efforts 
to gain and train members in the use of explosives.  In the 
Republic, five people were convicted of membership in RIRA 
this year. 
 
--The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) 
According to the IMC, in the first half of 2005, PIRA 
maintained its capacity as a terrorist organization.  The IMC 
reported that during this period, PIRA decreased its 
involvement in violence, but increased its participation in 
organized criminal activity.  It was unclear how active PIRA 
was in the Irish Republic, but Irish government officials 
suspected continued recruitment of members until the July 28 
statement that called for an end to all forms of illegal 
activity.  Prior to this statement, the Justice Minister 
estimated that there were approximately 1,500 active members 
in PIRA.  In November 2004, two men were convicted of PIRA 
membership by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, as were a 
further five in February of this year. In October, however, 
the IMC reported that it saw no evidence that PIRA wanted to 
return to a campaign of terrorist violence. 
 
 
Foreign Government Cooperation 
------------------------------ 
 
¶8.  In July, the Irish Justice Minister and U.S. Ambassador 
signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in a bid to increase 
cooperation in the fight against global crime and terrorism. 
This agreement allows for more bilateral cooperation in 
police investigations and updates rules on extraditions. 
However, Irish courts' restrictive approach to carrying out 
extraditions continues to be of concern for U.S. officials. 
 
 
¶9. POC for 2005 Annual Terrorism Report is Tom Rosenberger, 
email: rosenbergertm@state.gov. 
 
 
 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
Visit Dublin's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/dublin/index. cfm 
KENNY