Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has described as “extremely significant” the discovery of a car bomb intercepted as it was being driven across the border to Northern Ireland.
Mr Kelly said it was concerning that there remains a small group of dissident republicans who did not put weapons and explosives beyond use.
He described them as “radicalised republicans” and said he was not surprised that the woman arrested was in her 20s because young people are being radicalised by terrorists and not just in republican circles.
He said they were working closely with the PSNI and the intelligence services in the UK to deal with the threat.
Two people are being questioned in relation to the incident.
The car was stopped two days ago south of Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan as part of an operation by the Special Detective Unit, which was investigating dissident republican activity.
The bomb was discovered following a search of the car and the Army Bomb Disposal team was called in to make the device safe before it was removed for a forensic examination.
Jim O’Callaghan said the incident is evidence of the ongoing threat from dissident republicans
Gardaí say the bomb was sophisticated had been completed and was ready for use.
It contained a power unit, a detonator and military grade explosives and was expected to be used as a under-car bomb in an attack in Northern Ireland.
The Commissioner described it as “a significant explosive device”.
He said the interception was an intelligence-led operation and the gardaí had significant information about the people involved.
The driver of the car, a woman in her 20s, was arrested and is being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
A man in his 40s has also since been arrested and can also be questioned for up to three days.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said the incident is evidence of the ongoing threat from dissident republican activity and illustrates the ongoing co-operation between the PSNI and the gardaí.
He also said it was “very worrying” but that he was encouraged that gardaí were able to apprehend the suspect and procure and defuse the device before it could become a threat to the public.
The Commissioner and the Minister for Justice has spoken to the PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boucher about the incident.
The Chief Constable is at the Garda College in Templemore in a personal capacity today for the graduation of 206 new gardaí, which brings the total number of serving gardaí to over 14,700.