Reports on the weekend dissident attacks have pointed up the “symbolism” of the attempted bombing of the Police Authority headquarters in Belfast.

Sadly this wasn’t simply about symbolism.

It was about a lethal 400lb blockbuster car bomb with potential for mass murder.

And it very, very nearly did fully explode.

Right now, I’d say, the symbolism of it all is the least of our worries.

The weekend attacks have — as ever in Northern Ireland — been met with the traditional outpouring of cliché.

There will be no going back ... we must redouble our efforts ? danger of political vacuum ? small, isolated band of fanatics who represent no-one but themselves.

All fine and admirable stuff.

But 15 years (15 years!) after the first round of ceasefires when we were assured the Troubles were over, done with, finished for good, shouldn’t we be asking questions — really searching questions — of the Government and politicians who represent us?

Along the lines of how come our remarkable peace process still hasn’t consigned the paramilitaries and their bloody insanity to history?

For the grim fact is, we’re not just talking about one small rag-tail gang out there.

Paramilitary organisation on all sides are still active, still armed and still very, very dangerous.

The most immediate and obvious danger comes, undeniably from the dissident republican groupings — the Real IRA, the Continuity IRA and Óglaigh na hÉireann.

But the loyalist outfits remain intact and armed to the teeth too. They may not be shooting anybody right now (when you’re trying to extort money from the Government best to keep the cordite under control.)

But let’s not kid ourselves — they spend all their time these days painting Belfast Banksy inspirational stencils over the “ready for war” murals.

Or zipping from meeting to meeting on community outreach and good bonfire management.

In the areas which they continue to rule with a baseball of iron-pronged brutality, people are under no illusions just who’s in charge.

And sorry Mr Baggot, but yours is not the name they think of first.

The so-called mainstream republican paramilitaries haven’t exactly disappeared without trace either. In their areas they’re still known — and feared — as well.

We’re constantly reassured that all these are yesterday’s men. For yesterday’s men they retain a helluva clout today.

And not just clout ?

One of the major eye-openers of recent years has been evidence of just how well so many within the paramilitary hierarchies right across the board have benefited from the Troubles.

The foot soldiers may not have prospered quite so spectacularly. But there are paramilitary leaders on all sides who have ended up with bigger investment portfolios than your average banking fat cat.

This from involvement in mass murder. What has the Government done about this?

Generally turned a blind eye. Occasionally even contributed to paramilitary wealth.

Meanwhile the same Government and — more shamefully — our local representatives have also managed to ignore the enormous festering deprivation of large swathes of this country.

Why would a young lad from such an area on either side be tempted to join a paramilitary gang?

Fairly obvious, I’d say.

Our sticking plaster peace process has taped over problems rather than actually tackling them.

Another bomb. Another gun attack ?

How much longer can it hold?