The Irish Foreign Affairs Minister was meeting with Northern Ireland's political parties in Belfast
All efforts must be made to find an alternative to fresh Stormont elections, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said.
Relations between the UK and EU appear to have improved since Liz Truss became Prime Minister and London and Brussels have been talking up the potential for a deal through fresh negotiations. "In doing so provide the momentum and encouragement for the one party not willing to re-enter the executive for now, it is worth taking that jump.Speaking following her meeting with Mr Coveney, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said: "I am extremely concerned that we are 16 days away from having absolutely no political leadership, political oversight and scrutiny, decision making or direction setting within government.
"And yet it seems that despite all of that, the DUP are willing to use the pain of the people of Northern Ireland as leverage on the protocol." He said: "Whether Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom is restored by a negotiated outcome or by Parliament legislating is a matter for the Government.
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