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Minister Frances Fitzgerald, T.D. and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Theresa Villiers, MP, met in Dublin today. This was their first meeting since Minister Fitzgerald's appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality.

The Minister and Secretary of State reviewed the security situation on the island and, in particular, the threat emanating from paramilitary groups. They noted the exemplary cooperation particularly between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in dealing with this threat and pledged to do everything within their power to support them in this vital work.

Minister Fitzgerald said: 'It was good to have this early opportunity to discuss very serious matters of mutual concern. I want to congratulate An Garda Síochána and their counterparts on foiling a number of determined efforts to carry out terrorist offences. But these successes are a stark reminder of the threat posed by paramilitary groups whose aim is to drag the Irish people back into a very dark past. The Secretary of State and myself are determined, on behalf of our Governments, that there will be seamless cooperation at all levels in resolutely countering this threat.'