TÁNAISTE Micheál Martin today spoke of "good engagement" with Stormont's main parties following his first official discussions with northern politicians since relinquishing the taoiseach's role last month.
The Republic's foreign affairs minister will tomorrow meet European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic in Brussels to discuss recent efforts to break the deadlock around the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Fianna Fáil leader today held a series of phone calls with the leaders of Stormont's main parties, ahead of Thursday's visit to Belfast by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris is due to hold roundtable talks with the parties on Wednesday.
Mr Martin said today's phone conversations focused on getting the power-sharing institutions restored.
Sinn Féin Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill spoke on social media of a "good call" with the tánaiste.
"We share a common commitment on way forward to get negotiated outcome on protocol and immediate restoration of power-sharing," she tweeted.
"My priority is to work with all parties and both governments to achieve this in days and weeks ahead."
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the pair discussed the Northern Ireland Protocol and the Republic's approach to the post-Brexit trade arrangements.
“This was a useful conversation as the Republic of Ireland is an EU member state and fits as part of a wider programme of engagement with influential voices in London and Brussels," he said.
The Lagan Valley MP said London, Dublin and Brussels now recognised that the protocol is a "problem for unionists".
"It was a mistake for the protocol’s authors to press ahead with an agreement that has harmed Northern Ireland’s constitutional and economic place within the United Kingdom – more and more voices now recognise the unanimous view amongst unionist MLAs," he said.
"We have an opportunity to get an outcome from these negotiations which replaces the protocol by arrangements that restore Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market and our constitutional position is respected."
Sir Jeffrey said he was committed to restoration of the Stormont institutions, but added: "such a restoration can only be durable if it is built on solid foundations which are supported by unionists and nationalists".
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said his discussions with Mr Martin focused on the "urgent need to restore the power-sharing institutions at Stormont".
"I had a productive call with the tánaiste this morning," he said.
"Our shared priority remains the restoration of the devolved institutions at Stormont. With crises facing the delivery of public services and household finances in every community, it is vital that the Assembly and executive are back up and running as soon as possible."
