‘Paramilitarism is irrelevant’

THE potential threats which both dissident Irish republican and Ulster loyalist terrorism present to the Northern Ireland peace process were evaluated at top-level Irish and British government talks in Dublin yesterday.

The security exchanges also considered the prospects for introducing tougher anti-terror legislation, where necessary, and ways of boosting cross-border police co-operation.

Those at the talks included Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy and Justice Minister Michael McDowell, as well as Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne.