The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, yesterday announced the names of the 10 people who will oversee the early release of some 400 paramilitary prisoners within two years.
The Sentence Review Commission was welcomed as balanced and broad-based. It will meet early next week in Belfast, and the first prisoners should be released by early September.
A former permanent under-secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, Sir John Blelloch, will jointly chair the commission with a South African lawyer, Mr Brian Currin. The commission also includes a psychiatrist, a social worker, a barrister and a criminologist.
Dr Mowlam said the early release of prisoners was one of the most difficult parts of the Belfast Agreement, and the commissioners would bring a range of relevant skills and experience.
"I believe the people of Northern Ireland can have confidence that the commissioners I have appointed will apply the tests in the legislation diligently, and with due regard for the need to maintain public confidence in the arrangements."
The commission will consider each prisoner's application for release separately. However, the bulk of the prisoners belonging to the eligible organisations - the IRA, the UVF and the UDA/UFF - are expected to be freed later this year or early next. All inmates affiliated to these groups will be released within two years.
The SDLP's Mr Alex Attwood said the membership of the commission appeared broad-based and specialist. There were clear directives governing the commission. "If they respect those directives, I believe the terms of the agreement can be fulfilled satisfactorily," he added.
A Sinn Fein spokesman, Mr Gerry Kelly, called for the immediate release of all political prisoners. He said: "Sinn Fein wants to see this commission fulfil its work speedily. Their remit is clear cut, to oversee the release of all political prisoners."
Sir John Blelloch, joint chair of the commission, was permanent under-secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office from 1988 to 1990. He has also held senior positions in the British Ministry of Defence and is currently vice-chairman of the Automobile Association.
Mr Brian Currin, the other joint chairman, was appointed by President Nelson Mandela in 1994 to chair a Prison Audit Committee and was later involved in setting up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. He founded the National Directorate of Lawyers for Human Rights.
The other commission members are:
Mr David Bolton, a social worker and former chairman of the Fermanagh District Partnership for Peace and Reconciliation, who has worked with victims of violence.
Ms Silvia Casale, an independent criminologist and a UK member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment.
Mr Peter Curran, a consultant psychiatrist at the Mater Hospital, Belfast, who has lectured on the impact of political violence.
Mr Ian Dunbar, a former governor of a number of prisons in England and Wales.
Ms Mary Gilpin, an ex-probation officer and retired social worker from Scotland.
Dr Adrian Grounds, a former Cambridge University lecturer in forensic psychiatry.
Ms Clodagh McGrory, a barrister with a particular interest in human rights and a member of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights.
Mr Dave Wall, the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders.