Gardaí have uncovered a machine gun and bomb making equipment as part of an ongoing investigation into dissident republican activities.
The discovery was made during searches of a number of properties in counties Louth and Meath this morning.
In addition to the machine gun, a shotgun, pipe bomb, improvised mortar, explosives and ammunition was seized.
Describing today's find as "significant" the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said gardaí were continuing to work closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to "thwart the intent of a small group of people who want to inflict violence and pain on communities."
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"Our objective is to stop them in their tracks and secure evidence to put them before the court," he added.