text: On 20 October 2015, the Assessment on Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations reported that the structures of the IRA remain in existence "in a much reduced form", including "a senior leadership, the 'Provisional Army Council' and some 'departments'", but that they are not recruiting members. It concluded that the IRA still has access to some weapons, but have not sought to procure more since at least 2011. It also said that IRA members believe the Army Council oversees both the IRA and Sinn Féin.
  Membership
  In May 2005, The Sunday Times reported that the following changes were made to the IRA Army Council:
  Bernard Fox replaced Brian Keenan
  Brian Arthurs and Sean Murray were named as possible replacements for Gerry Adams
  Martin Lynch replaced Martin McGuinness
  Martin Ferris was also reported to have stepped down
  The Sunday Times reported in July 2005 that security sources believed that the current Army Council consisted of:
  Thomas Murphy, chief of staff
  Brian Arthurs, Commander, Provisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade
  Bernard Fox, a former hunger striker (on 24 September 2006, The Sunday Times reported that Fox had resigned from the Army Council)
  Sean Murray, from Belfast, OC of Northern Command
  Martin Lynch, Adjutant-general, an Adams supporter from Belfast
  Brian Gillen, from Belfast
  A Dublin man who was not named for legal reasons