The Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan is set to discuss the IRA controversy with the Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers in Dublin next week.

Earlier today, Ms Villiers had attempted to play down the impact of the row on the Northern peace process.

She said she was not surprised by the assessment of the North's police chief that the IRA still exists and that IRA members may killed Belfast man Kevin McGuigan.

Meanwhile, the Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Sinn Fein have accused each other of trying to scupper the peace process.

Mr Martin has accused the Sinn Fein leadership of dishonesty, for claiming the IRA has "gone away".

Sinn Féin says the Fianna Fáil leader is trying to use the controversy for political advantage.