MPs' fears about the British government's determination to prevent paramilitary involvement in community criminal justice schemes in the north were eased yesterday (Monday).
NIO minister David Hanson assured the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that individuals' suitability would be continually monitored.
The committee expressed deep concerns in a report in January that any involvement by paramilitaries in the schemes would create the opportunity to "perpetrate paramilitary control of communities".
In response Mr Hanson said the government plans set out criteria directly affecting the suitability of an individual.
Certain offences relating to children and young people would render anyone unsuitable.
So would convictions for any serious arrestable offences since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998 or a term of imprisonment for such an offence in the three years before making an application to join a community justice scheme.
"Criminal convictions will not be the only criteria considered," Mr Hanson said.
"Any information from police or other statutory sources suggesting an individual is currently involved in criminal or paramilitary activity will be grounds for finding an individual unsuitable."
Mr Hanson refused to set up a dedicated budget to fund the activities of the community-based restorative justice schemes.
The establishment of a dedicated budget by the Department for Social Development (DSD) was recommended in the committee's report.
It said such a move would be preferable to organisations seeking funds "through seemingly haphazard allocations of different DSD budgets".
However, in his response, published by the committee, Mr Hanson said: "The government will not be establishing via DSD a dedicated budget line."
Mr Hanson said schemes that were engaged with the process would be free to apply for funding from existing sources in the same way as any other voluntary or community organisation.
"All funding streams will be subject to the constraints of the current comprehensive spending review," he warned.
Mr Hanson did, however, follow the MPs' advice over government proposals for the establishment of an advisory panel so that the suitability of cases for the community restorative justice programme could be discussed in detail.
The committee said evidence from the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), police and others was that such a body would introduce an additional layer to an already complex referrals process and create "inordinate delay".
Mr Hanson responded: "It has been accepted by government that the value of an advisory panel may be outweighed by the delay it would inevitably introduce to the referral process.
"Consequently the provision in the draft protocol for an advisory panel has been removed and schemes will consult promptly and directly with police."
Mr Hanson also said the PPS was considering a recommendation for the attachment of a prosecutor to every major police station in Northern Ireland.
He said the proposal was being looked at as part of the roll-out of PPS services to regional offices.
