Paisley plea on border criminals

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The Democratic Unionist leader made the proposal during a cordial one-and-a-half hour meeting in Dublin's Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park where the two leaders exchanged the first public handshake between them.

Afterwards Mr Paisley, who received an invitation from the Taoiseach to visit the Battle of the Boyne site later this year where King William of Orange defeated the army of King James in 1690, said they had also discussed the need for the new administrations in Northern Ireland and in the Irish Republic to work for each other's best interests.

"We can confidently state that we are making progress to ensure our two countries can develop and grow side by side in the spirit of generous co-operation," the North Antrim MP declared.

"I trust that old barriers and threats will be removed in my day.

"Business opportunities are flourishing.

"Genuine respect for the understanding of each other's differences and, for that matter, similarities is now developing."

Earlier the DUP leader, who will become the First Minister of the new power sharing government on May 8 alongside Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister, firmly shook the hand of Mr Ahern in public for the first time.

As he arrived at Farmleigh House, he quipped: "I better shake the hands of this man. I'll give him a firm handshake."

Mr Paisley, who was accompanied by his son Ian Paisley Jr., affectionately grabbed the Taoiseach by the shoulder. This prompted quips that people were witnessing the handshake of history on Mr Ahern's shoulder.