The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, has called for "cool heads" in an effort to salvage the Northern Ireland peace process.
Speaking after meeting with Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, in Derry, Mr Ahern said it was "time for calmness."
"It is nearly the politics of the last statement at the moment but we really need to keep cool heads and try to work our way out of these difficulties," Mr Ahern said.
"There have been worse difficulties over the years since the Hume-Adams talks started, but I again stress no democratically-elected government can allow a situation to continue where there are illegal activities being carried on by people who quite clearly have connections with some of the people involved".
Mr McGuinness said the relationship between Sinn Féin and the Government had been "badly damaged by the events of recent weeks." But he
added: "We're all big boys, we're all experienced politicians."
Mr McGuinness went on to say that the people behind the Belfast bank heist "don't give a damn" about the peace process.
Speaking after the half-hour meeting he said the raiders "don't give tuppence for the works which the likes of I, Gerry Adams, Mitchell McLaughlin and others from other political parties and from the two governments have been involved in to build this process."
Mr Ahern said this comment was "helpful" but it was the view of the Garda Siochana that the raid was committed by the Provisional IRA "with the knowledge of the leadership of the Provisional IRA".
"That is something Sinn Féin have to reflect on".