The threat from dissident groups is still ?very serious? and is at its highest level for six years, Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan told the Dail today.
?It is clear from recent developments that the threat from dissident republicans on this island has now reached very dangerous levels? there is a clear need for increased border security and intelligence resources to counteract the increasing terrorist threat," he said.
Mr Flanagan welcomed yesterday?s confirmation that the INLA, the Official IRA and the UDA's south east Antrim brigade had destroyed their arsenals as part of the decommissioning process, but said last month?s bomb in the North shows a continuing deterioration.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said the "evil, criminal attack" on PSNI Constable Peadar Heffron in recent weeks is a "stark reminder that there remain a tiny, unrepresentative few whose aim is to destroy all that has been achieved?.
Such attacks by "so-called dissident republicans" do not represent the democratic will of the people on this island, he said. "They offer nothing but pain and suffering to the Irish people."