The toughest anti-terrorist legislation since the foundation of the State has been proposed by the Government to counter the threat by militant republicans to the Belfast Agreement and to jail members of the so-called `Real IRA' and their supporters.
Northern Ireland's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, expressed satisfaction with the Government's response last night and said the British government should take similar action.
Although Mr Trimble remarked on "the stop-go nature" of previous security initiatives, he was complimentary and supportive of the Irish legislative proposals when he met the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, last night in Dublin.
He said the Belfast Agreement, endorsed by the overwhelming majority, gave them all a strong base from which to ensure that the democratic choice of the people was vindicated.
Mr Trimble's only criticism was aimed at the British government for removing the power to introduce internment from the statute books. He hoped that would now change and Parliament would be recalled to deal with the security situation.
Earlier, following a four-hour Government meeting, the Taoiseach announced measures restricting the right to silence; making it easier to jail persons on the word of a chief superintendent and extending the period of detention from 48 to 72 hours. Legislation is at present being drafted and it will be rushed through the Oireachtas when the Dail and Seanad are called into emergency session in two weeks.
In addition, five new offences will be created under the Offences Against the State Act. In future, people may be jailed for directing an unlawful organisation; possessing items connected with firearms or explosives offences; withholding information; unlawfully collecting information and training persons in the use of firearms and explosives.
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, will give effect to the Bail Act, specifically for republican prisoners, by special ministerial order. Its invocation will coincide with the passage of the new security legislation, early next month.
The Government is also invoking powers to confiscate property, including land, used for the purpose of committing or facilitating an offence for use against republican sympathisers. These could be used against those who store arms or explosives, or who provide "safe houses" for paramilitaries.
The Taoiseach and his Ministers variously described the measures as "draconian" and the "strongest since the foundation of the State". They insisted those responsible for the Omagh bombing would be pursued and locked away for a long time, no matter what happened regarding an expected ceasefire by the `Real IRA'.
The Government, Mr Ahern said, had decided to go down the legislative road, rather than introduce internment without trial. But he said that the option of internment remained and would be used if it was felt to be necessary.
Welcoming the measures, the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said: "Our own legal framework already provides extensive powers. I am actively looking at ways of further strengthening them.
"In particular, it is at present difficult to secure convictions for the offence of membership of a proscribed organisation, such as the `Real IRA' which has admitted to Saturday's bombing.
"I am therefore considering changes similar to those which the Irish Government have announced today to make it easier to prove membership. The details are still being worked out, as they are with the Irish, but I hope we can move quickly."
But the Sinn Fein TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain described the measures announced by the Taoiseach as "a major mistake". "There is justified anger against the tiny splinter group which carried out the bombing but to use this anger to severely limit the civil liberties of all - in particular the right to silence - is simply sowing the seeds of future injustice." O Caolain said.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Bruton, said people would ask why it took the Omagh bombing for such security measures to be introduced.