Statement by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar spoke with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May by phone this evening.

This followed a meeting between the Taoiseach and Tánaiste Simon Coveney with Mary Lou McDonald TD and Michelle O'Neill MLA this evening to review recent developments in Northern Ireland.

The Taoiseach emphasised the Government's full commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and its determination to secure the effective operation of all its institutions.

As co-guarantor to the agreement, the Government will continue to engage with the parties in Northern Ireland and the British Government to support the urgent formation of a new Executive by the mandated political parties.

The Government’s firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements must be implemented in full, and in this context the Taoiseach and Tánaiste re-iterated that the Irish Government does not want to see the introduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland.