ARLENE Foster and Michelle O'Neill have again clashed on the future of the Northern Ireland Protocol, after the DUP met with loyalist leaders about anger over the Irish Sea border.
The first minister said that Brexit was a "gateway to opportunity" but the protocol was preventing the region taking this up.
"So there needs to be a solution found and that's what I'm focused on doing in terms of the replacement of the protocol," she said.
Ms O'Neill, meanwhile, insisted that the protocol was "here to stay" and political leaders should "work on making the protocol work".
"I think all sides need to focus on finding solutions, let's get resolution to the issues where we can," she said.
Ms Foster, along with DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds and East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson, discussed opposition to the protocol with the Loyalist Communities Council yesterday.
It represents loyalists groups including the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando.
The Irish News understands that its delegation included east Belfast loyalist Jim Wilson, Winston Irvine of the Progressive Unionist Party, and the UPRG's Jackie McDonald.
LCC spokesman David Campbell was also in attendance.
Loyalists are angry at new checks on goods arriving at ports, with claims an economic wedge has been driven with Britain which undermines the union.
A DUP spokesman said afterwards: "We listened to the views expressed and the need for political and constitutional methods to safeguard the United Kingdom single market and ensure there is an unfettered flow of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
The party has urged the UK government to ditch the protocol.
However, in a joint statement on Wednesday, British Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said both sides are committed to its "proper implementation".
The protocol was designed by the EU and UK to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland by moving regulatory and customs checks to the Irish Sea.
Goods brought into Northern Ireland from Britain are now subject to a range of new processes, causing some disruption to trade.
SDLP MP Claire Hanna last night called for the DUP leadership to focus on lobbying the UK government to reduce border checks by aligning more with the EU.
"People and businesses here have a lot to deal with at the moment between the transition from lockdown and grappling with Brexit and the the protocol," she said.
"The DUP don’t seem to have a plan on either and are spending more time winding people up than solving problems."
