Four suspected dissident republicans are still being questioned about the seizure of a huge haul of home-made explosives in Co Armagh yesterday.
The four men were detained by police investigating a suspected bomb factory in Lurgan.
Police found more than 100 kilos of fertiliser-based homemade explosives suitable for use in a large bomb at a car-breaker's yard in a residential area. Three men were arrested at the scene early yesterday and a fourth was arrested later at another location.
Michael McDowell
The arrested men - aged 22, 26, 36 and 46 - are being held under the Terrorism Act and can be detained for up to seven days.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell insisted dissidents intent on violence will not succeed and would be thwarted by the efforts of the PSNI and Garda.
Speaking at a Garda graduation ceremony in Templemore, Co Tipperary, he insisted massive public support for the Northern Ireland peace process would not be derailed by a small group of fanatics.
"There are two main dissident Republican groups, and both of them are attempting to disrupt the peace process and to somehow blow it off course," he said. "They are also intent on creating death and destruction in Northern Ireland. They believe in some mad way that this will advance the cause of united Ireland.
"All of this will be forlorn because the will of the people is far stronger than any wishes of a small group of fanatics," he said.
Mr McDowell also estimated that the Continuity IRA and the "Real IRA" had up to 200 members each.