Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has criticised as "unwarranted" remarks by the DUP today over President Mary McAleese's latest visit to Northern Ireland.
The DUP accused the President of having a deep hatred of Northern Ireland and said she should be subject to the same protocols as any other foreign heads of state.
"The fact that she takes protection from the PSNI but refuses to go into a police station when they are changing shows how deep her hatred is of Northern Ireland," DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley said.
Speaking after a meeting with the Northern Secretary Peter Hain, North Belfast DUP member Nigel Dodds said it is "reprehensible" that Mrs McAleese does not undergo the same protocols as other heads of state during an official visit.
"The protocols, of course, are out the window when it comes to visits by the Irish president, every other foreign head of state goes through the proper protocols, but as far as Mary McAleese is concerned all of that is cast to one side," Mr Dodds said.
The President was in Northern Ireland on a one-day visit today to help announce a new programme of cross-community relations.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern defended Mrs McAleese, saying she has made considerable progress in the peace process by reaching out to communities in the North.
"She is always very careful to go through all of the protocols and procedures that are there. She did that this time as well. The detailed arrangements were made for this particular visit in accordance with the practice and procedures that we always follow in consulation with all of the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland, including the PSNI, and in advance of the visit - that's what always happens and it happened in this case too."
He said the DUP's remarks were "unwarranted" and "not very helpful".
"It's not a very mature way of acting. You could imagine the view if one of the Royal family were here and leaders of major parties and myself or somebody else were to make remarks like that — we just wouldn't do it," said Mr Ahern.
Mr Dodds was speaking after a visit by Mrs McAleese to a cross-community centre in his constituency. He said that the first he had heard of the visit came when he was handed a leaflet telling him of it.
"Why should she get any privileged position simply because she is from the Dublin capital as opposed to any other capital in the EU or anywhere else?" he asked.
He added that Mrs McAleese has "a problem to overcome because of her attitude to unionists in what she has said about unionists and likening them to Nazis".