The Northern Secretary has commissioned an independent assessment from security agencies and police on the activity and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.

Theresa Villiers has asked the British security agencies and the PSNI to report on the role and purpose of paramilitary organisations.

Ms Villiers says the assessment, which will be published by mid-October, will be available to inform the parties' discussions and conclusions in the cross party talks.

She added that talk involving all the five main parties in the governments of the North, Ireland and Britain, will begin on Monday.

"I am announcing today that the Government has commissioned a factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the PSNI on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland", Ms Villiers said.

"This assessment will be independently reviewed and checked by three individuals who I will appoint".

The identities of these people will be announced early next week.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Charlie Flanagan, said the exercise will be “a once-off exercise completed over the coming weeks and is intended to assist the parties in the talks in their collective consideration of how the impact and legacy of paramilitary activity should best be addressed".

Mr Flanagan urged all parties to resume talks, adding that after ten days of “shadow boxing" it was now "essential that all of the five main parties in Northern Ireland, with the support of the two Governments, urgently get down to the serious business of fully implementing the Stormont House Agreement and addressing the impact and legacy of continuing paramilitary activity”.

The North's First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson says the independent assessment will be able to question all agencies about paramilitary organisations.

Northern Ireland security correspondent, Alan Murray, told Newstalk Lunchtime it may help allay DUP fears.