A commission involving the representatives of loyalist paramilitaries tonight challenged Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid to address the sense of grievance and marginalisation felt by their community.
The Loyalist Commission, which also involves political, civic and religious leaders, noted that Dr Reid, in his speech to the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool yesterday, acknowledged the decline in the unionist community's confidence in recent years.
In a statement tonight it said: "We look forward with interest to what steps the Secretary of State and others will now take to follow up these words with constructive actions."
Dr Reid told the institute there was "ample evidence" of a feeling of isolation within unionism and loyalism which had resulted in the fragmentation of its politics and feuding within the community.
He observed: "This is a community which feels itself isolated with its foundations eroded, victims of violence who are witnesses to a stream of `concessions' to the `other side'.
Dr Reid's remarks triggered a debate throughout the day among unionists about the sense of grievance in their community.
Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble urged the Northern Ireland Secretary to pay attention to the views of the public.
"We feel the Secretary of State and the administration have not got the balance right," the North’s First Minister said.
"I'm glad to see him addressing some of these issues, because where he gives us lectures on what should be done it might be appropriate for him to listen a little bit more to what people are saying."
Mr Trimble also responded to Dr Reid's claim that undue emphasis was being placed by unionists on symbols of Britishness.
"I would suggest he goes to the Scottish Parliament and sees what flag is flying outside it," he said.
Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Newry and Armagh Mr Danny Kennedy confirmed tonight he had also written to Dr Reid requesting a meeting with a number of his constituents in Newry and Armagh about their sense of alienation.
Dr Reid was also told tonight by a hardline Democratic Unionist MP that the North was already a "cold place for Protestants".
In an after-dinner speech to DUP activists in Ballywalter, Co Down, East Derry MP Mr Gregory Campbell said he had for years been trying to draw attention to the "legitimate grievances held by the unionist community".
PA