His offer of talks with the leadership of the republican movement came as Chris Patten, the Chairman of the Independent Commission on Policing, prepared to meet with loyalists as part of the ongoing peace process.

Mr Flanagan said he was prepared to meet with everyone because they had a right to have their say on how a policing service should be delivered.

"But let's not express that right through graffiti," he told BBC Radio Ulster. "Let's not express that right through slogans. Let us sit down together.

Mr Patten: Drawing up proposals

"Let us hear opinion, and everyone who has a legitimate opinion and I am prepared to listen to that opinion. I am prepared to engage in meaningful dialogue with anyone who wants to express a meaningful opinion on policing."

Mr Flanagan added: "If that's what they [Sinn Fein] choose to do, I am more than willing to engage in that dialogue with them."

Mr Patten's meeting with loyalists is the latest of a series of discussions with both sides of the community.

The former Hong Kong governor is scheduled to have a report ready by next summer.

He is expected to recommend that the RUC's overall strength of 13,500 is cut by several thousand.