DUP's Ian Paisley junior: "I was lied to"

This was not on the agenda, but former Northern Ireland chief constable Sir Ronnie invited Mr Byrne to speak.

The Democratic Unionist Party's Ian Paisley junior said: "This ceremony was hijacked. There was no scripting in of a position for the garda officer.

"It was not balanced. There was no national flag or anthem from our country and yet we had a garda officer here blessing the troops as they go out to serve Northern Ireland.

"I was lied to and brought here under false pretences and I think a lot of people will be angry at the way this has been mismanaged."

Ulster Unionist assembly member Fred Cobain said: "I am disappointed that Ronnie Flanagan tried to embarrass us today.

UUP's Fred Cobain: "It was embarrassing"

"He knew how sensitive this issue was. We have been discussing this for about three weeks. To invite Pat Byrne here to speak is an embarrassment for us.

"But I don't think this as an issue should take away from the day. It was a great day for the new recruits and their families and I'm happy to be here at the start of the new dispensation for policing."

But the nationalist SDLP described the graduation as "historic".

SDLP Policing Board member Alex Attwood said: "The garda have been involved in the PSNI training, the garda and the police co-operate in 101 ways.

"It is appropriate to characterise that by having speeches from police officers north and south."

SDLP's Alex Attwood: "Historic day"

Policing Board chairman Professor Desmond Rea said the changes had been positive.

He said: "We, in the Policing Board, in partnership with the Police Service, are beginning to tackle the issues at the heart of policing here and we believe we can look to the future with great confidence."

Northern Ireland Security Minister Jane Kennedy congratulated the officers on their graduation.

"These young people had the courage to look to the future and in the proud traditions of policing in Northern Ireland, they will face all challenges with unparalleled dedication and professionalism," she said.

Security Minister Jane Kennedy: "Young courageous people"

University of Ulster vice-chancellor Professor Gerry McKenna, who was presiding officer at the ceremony, said: "These graduating students, both symbolically and in reality, represent the new consensus that we hope will form the basis for the pluralist and reconciled society that we are all striving to create in Northern Ireland."

But Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly said the British Government had made "a colossal mistake" in its policing reforms.

"We would vigorously campaign against young nationalists and Catholics joining this police force because it isn't the new beginning to policing that was promised."

The new recruits have been trained specifically for the police service of Northern Ireland and new uniforms have been introduced as part of the sweeping changes to policing.

The service changed from the mainly Protestant Royal Ulster Constabulary to the Police Service of Northern Ireland last November.

The changes have followed a report from Chris Patten's policing commission, which made more than 175 recommendations, after being set up under the Good Friday Agreement.