The former Sinn Féin president was speaking ahead of the 20th anniversary of the end of the Provisional IRA’s armed struggle.

The Irish Government wanted to appeal to the UK side against ‘manipulating’ every scenario for favourable election results in Northern Ireland.

The First Minister’s comments came amid an ongoing controversy over the decision of two DUP ministers to meet the Loyalist Communities Council.

The Education Minister accused other parties of ‘hypocrisy’ over their criticism of his meetings with the Loyalist Communities Council.

He was the second longest serving leader of his party.

The briefing said that Ken Maginnis was ‘in many ways the most attractive (in personal terms) of the UUP upper echelon’

The tribute to Lord Trimble is displayed at Leinster House beside a bust of John Hume which was unveiled in March.