President Mary McAleese has described the upcoming visit of Britain's Queen Elizabeth as historic and condemned threats by dissident republicans.
Mrs McAleese described them as ‘the tail end of a very old, tired, failed culture of trying to resolve political problems through paramilitarism’.
She was speaking in The Hague on the second and final day of her official visit to the Netherlands.
She urged those intent on violence to 'listen to the will' of 99.99% of the people who want problems solved in 'a dignified and decent way'.
Mrs McAleese wants differences resolved 'through political dialogue, not bullying'.
Elsewhere, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, has said gardaí and the Defence Forces are working to ensure the visits of Queen Elizabeth and US President Barack Obama pass off without incident.
Mr Shatter told the Dáil this evening that security arrangements for the visits are being continually assessed.
Queen Beatrix praises Irish reaction to debt burden
Earlier, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands praised the Irish people for the admirable way they faced up to what she called the country's 'exceptional debt burden'.
Queen Beatrix was speaking at a lunch reception for President McAleese at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.
President McAleese accepted that Ireland faces tough times now and in the future, but she said the Irish people would do whatever it takes to overcome the problems.
She visited the Royal Picture Gallery at Mauritshuis in The Hague this morning. The gallery houses the iconic Vermeer painting Girl With A Pearl Earring.
Other famous paintings in the collection include Vermeer's View of Delft and Rembrandt's late self-portrait.
Mrs McAleese, accompanied by her husband Dr Martin McAleese, visited the European Space Agency this afternoon.
The President last night told Dutch business leaders and politicians that Ireland is honestly facing-up to its economic problems and taking humbling lessons from the process.
Ireland received a boost when Dutch Finance Minister Jan Kees De Jager backed Ireland's right to retain a low corporation tax.
The minister said that direct taxation is a matter for individual governments.
With both France and Germany having pressed for the rate to be increased, the statement was described as 'important' by Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton.
