Taoiseach Brian Cowen said tonight he was "heartened" by the united response to the recent murders of PSNI constable Stephen Carroll and two British soldiers at an army barracks in Antrim.
Mr Cowen and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin met a Sinn Féin delegation led by party president Gerry Adams at Government Buildings this evening.
They had a detailed discussion on the latest situation in the North, the Taoiseach said in a statement.
"There was full agreement on the need for everyone to stick together in the face of recent attacks."
Mr Cowen said he and Mr Martin were "heartened by the united response to the attacks and determined to press ahead with the development of the democratic political institutions in Northern Ireland, including through the forthcoming devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Executive".
They welcomed the fact that the relevant legislation had been passed at Westminster this week.
The Sinn Féin delegation also included Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Executive Minister Conor Murphy.
In a statement, Mr Adams described it as "a very good meeting".
"The Taoiseach is clearly seized by the imperative of the Government's and parties' uniting in defence of the peace process," he said.
"It is crucial that there is no breathing space given to these unrepresentative groups and that there is no sense of ambiguity about our collective opposition to their actions. I also stressed in our conversation the British Government must not step outside the political process.
"It is up to the police to deal with these matters. Political leaders, including the Governments must ensure that the process of positive change continues to deliver for citizens particularly those in disadvantaged sectors of our society."