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Mr Nesbitt stated that, to make matters worse, Dublin’s position is not opposed by the DUP – such is the scale of the DUP deception.

In a statement, the South Down MLA said: “Nigel Dodds has claimed that Bertie Ahern’s decision not to pursue the idea of Northern Ireland politicians having ‘speaking rights’ in the Dail is ‘a major set back for the Republican movement’. He then congratulates the DUP by noting that ‘the concerns raised by the DUP’ on this matter ‘have been listened to and acted upon’.

“My advice to Nigel Dodds is simple – read the small print, you are wrong, totally wrong.”

He added: “The DUP has made it clear that if Northern Ireland participation in a Dail Committee is by way of invitation only, and not treatment on an equal basis with members of the Dail, then the DUP would not oppose such a proposal, though the Party would not participate.

“Mr Dodds, read carefully all Bertie Ahern’s comments on the issue and you will see that he has not altered his fundamental principle regarding participation by Northern Ireland politicians. To make matters worse, Dublin’s position is not opposed by the DUP – such is the scale of the DUP deception.

“While the DUP is merely concerned as to the process of participation, the UUP objects in principle to the Irish Parliament discussing Northern Ireland’s affairs – this is against international law, against the Irish constitution and against the Irish Government’s adopted position within the Council of Europe. Such is the nature of the UUP’s fundamental opposition to Mr Ahern’s proposals as they stand today, notwithstanding welcoming comments from the DUP and bluster from Sinn Fein.

“Does Nigel Dodds not recall the DUP’s meeting in Dublin in November 2005? Does he not recall Dermot Ahern stating after the meeting that a lot of the DUP’s misperceptions about ‘speaking rights’ had been dispelled and that MPs would merely be invited to speak and would not be member of any Dail Committee?

“This attitude by the DUP is totally unacceptable. The DUP’s weasel words show only concern about processes and not the more fundamental issue - it is not the business of the Dail to discuss the internal affairs of Northern Ireland. Conducting such discussions is acting against normal good relations between separate jurisdictions and against accepted principles of 21st century democracy, whether MPs are merely invited or are there as of right is of lesser consequence.”

Concluding, he said: “Bertie Ahern may have stated that the constitutional status is settled, but that loses its significance if institutional arrangements - constantly demanded by republicans and likely to be partially granted - undermine that very status.