The Northern Ireland secretary's department has said democracy rather than violence is the way to express frustrations as it responded to concerns over a group representing loyalist paramilitaries.
It follows the Loyalist Communities Council warning of "dire consequences" if Stormont's collapse led to joint authority between the British and Irish governments.
In a letter the umbrella organisation, which represents the UVF, factions of the UDA and Red Hand Commando, said activists were "working tirelessly" to "restrain loyalists from lashing out in unproductive ways".
