Taoiseach Enda Kenny has condemned the street violence in east Belfast during the last two nights.
“This is a situation that, obviously, demands our serious attention,” he told the Dáil this morning.
“I have pledged that, on behalf of the Government, we will continue to work closely with the newly-elected Assembly and Executive in Northern Ireland.”
He told the Dáil today he had noted the joint statements made by the First Minister Peter Robinsion and the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness in bringing a sense of reason and calm to the situation.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin said the scale and nature of the violence was extremely serious.
“The only thing that is clear is that there are small groups who want to inflame and exploit the situation,” he added.
He said any influence they were allowed to gain would send a grim signal to many other communities throughout the North.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said he shared the concern about the situation in Belfast. “We need not only appeal to everyone to be calm and show leadership, but we want from this Dáil acts of practical solidarity with those communities,” he added.
Mr Adams said he would encourage TDs from every party to quietly visit the North.