Security for politicians is likely to increase in line with Ireland's terrorism threat level, a security analyst has said.
It comes as Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is reported to have advised the Justice Minister Helen McEntee to raise the terrorism threat level from 'moderate' to 'substantial' due to violent political extremists.
It is understood Gardaí now consider far-right extremism to pose a more serious threat than international jihadist terrorism and violent dissident republicanism.
Security analyst Declan Power told Newstalk Breakfast the change is more referring to those in public life.
"It should be taken seriously in that the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána which, in addition to being Ireland's national police service is our national security service, has written to the Minister to advise her of the need for this," he said.
"I don't want people to feel that they're going to be feel direct attack... it's not that kind of level of threat.
"It's very much about the threat facing public representatives and probably people in public life in general but particularly public representatives - politicians at national and local level."
'Increased Garda presence'
Mr Power said the most likely outcome from the increase in the terrorism threat level is more security for public representatives.
"There will be a limit as to what can be done - obviously members of the Cabinet and Ministers at certain levels will have an increased Garda presence," he said.
"One of the key things will be a focus on public representatives to be become more situationally aware how they go about their business.
"Access to our public representatives may become that bit more limited."
'Greater level of organisation'
Mr Power said there seems to be more organisation from far-right groups.
"The Guards have discerned that there is a greater level of organisation and cohesion to those that are making threats within the far-right," he said.
"I suppose unlike the other extremist elements that would have been of concern to Garda intelligence, such as jihadi extremists or dissident republican extremists, the far-right has grown across Irish society.
"It's not that it's massive but it's pervasive."
Mr Power said Gardaí are also concerned it's becoming easier for extremists to move around.
"It's not that everybody associated with it is setting out to engage in terrorism but there was a saying by Mao Zedong when he talked about how guerrillas would function in revolutionary warfare: that they would swim through the sea of the people," he said.
"What the Gardaí have noticed is that sea, with regards to far-right extremism, has increased a bit more in Ireland.
"Within that sea it's easier for those who have violent intent to swim - in other words to maveavour, rescruit, to get assistance.
"What they're also saying is that there is a great level of organisation and planning capacity starting to emerge."
'Not immune to terrorism'
Taoiseach Simon Harris has warned that Ireland is not immune to the threat of terrorism.
Speaking on Sunday in Carlow Mr Harris said Ireland should "always be conscious" of the risks of terrorism and extremism.
His comments come amid a spate of threats against elected representatives from extreme groups.
"Our country is not in any manner or means immune from the threat of terrorism - be that domestic or international," he said.
"We should always be conscious of that and I think we have seen many examples in many countries - and indeed examples in Ireland - of extremism.
"We know the risks that that poses".
Mr Harris added that he doesn't comment on confidential security briefings "for obvious reasons".
Listen back here:
