The discovery of suspected IRA arms dump in Belfast last weekend is "something to be concerned about," the Northern Secretary Mr Paul Murphy said this morning.
Speaking before talks in Dublin with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, Mr Murphy reiterated the two governments' line that "acts of completion" are necessary from all paramilitaries to move the peace process forward.
"I will look at the details [of the arms find] in Belfast later today, but this is clearly something to be concerned about. We now need acts of completion from the IRA," he said.
Mr Cowen said the matter was serious but that he also needed to see the details of police reports before he could comment further. "We want a decommissioning of weapons. We want an end to paramilitary activity. We want an act of completion on the part of the IRA," he stated.
This morning's meeting is designed to review the Northern situation based on the Hillsborough talks, at which Mr Murphy indicated that "very significant progress" had been made.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the British government will move controversial amendments to the Police Bill in the House of Commons this week to allow ex-prisoners to sit on Northern Ireland district police partnership (DDP) boards.
However, such amendments depend on the IRA and other paramilitaries have carrying out "acts of completion" to the satisfaction of the Independent International Decommissioning Body.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams warned against getting "into a tizzy" over the arms find. Mr Adams said however that he did not know whether the seizure was in fact an IRA arms dump.
"There obviously are arms dumps out there," he said in Dublin before talks at Government Buildings. "That the arms aren't being used I think is a significant factor, but I don't think we should get into a tizzy over this."Earlier, the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, demanded an explanation from republicans regarding the arms seizure. He said the haul of pistols, ammunition and explosive parts uncovered by the security forces had a huge significance for the future of the peace process.
Addressing the Sinn Féin leadership he said: "What is going on? What are you up to? You tell us you want to pursue peace and politics so why is this happening? Why are members of the mainstream IRA engaged in preparation for violence?"
Mr Trimble is expected to meet the Sinn Féin leadership in the next few days and he said he would be putting these questions directly to them.
Talks began at 1 p.m. between the Taoiseach, Mr Cowen, and the president of Sinn Féin, Mr Gerry Adams, as efforts continue to agree measures to restore the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive next month.
Later, Mr Cowen will address the 68-strong British/Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body, which is meeting in the Ormonde Hotel in Kilkenny city for two days.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the Taoiseach are expected back in Hillsborough early next month to present their final blueprint for the restoration of political institutions and decommissioning.
Police said two of the three men arrested in connection with the weapons find will appear in Belfast Magistrate's Court tomorrow. The men, aged 42 and 33, are charged with possession of weapons and explosives with intent to endanger life.
The third man was released without charge.
Six handguns, an assault rifle, timer power units and 2,000 rounds of ammunition were among the items seized during the raid on a house in Essex Street, off the lower Ormeau Road on Saturday night.
Additional reporting PA