TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny revealed he intends visiting the North in the near future. He would “engage in activities, projects and so on represented by the different parties and communities”.

Mr Kenny added: “We should seize the opportunity and demonstrate that we are serious about co-operation on North-South issues. When we can achieve efficiencies and demonstrate common purpose, we should do so.” Ministers would be engaging actively with their counterparts in the Northern Executive.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said events in the North on Monday night had significantly raised tensions in interface areas early in the parading season and there had been worrying signs regarding tensions in north Belfast around the Tour of the North parade. “I suggest the combination of these two events is worrying and reflects the fact that, unfortunately, the peace process has not reached all communities in the North.”

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the Short Strand was a small nationalist enclave in east Belfast.

“A great deal of work has been done by people in that community and by their neighbours in loyalist neighbourhoods. This has nothing to do with parading and it is not representative of either of these proud east Belfast communities.”

Mr Adams said more ongoing and informal contact, good neighbourliness and so on, would be better for everybody.