Leaders of the main churches in Ireland say they have sensed some optimism from the current political talks at Stormont.

Stormont leaders have traded fresh blows in their ongoing blame game ahead of talks with the British government.

The vacuum in Stormont powersharing is causing real damage, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin warned today.

The powersharing impasse in Northern Ireland is likely to extend throughout the year and potentially beyond, a senior Democratic Unionist has said.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has played down a lack of face-to-face meeting between the Taoiseach and the DUP during today's crunch talks at Stormont.

Latest: British Prime Minister Theresa May has urged Stormont's leaders to make one final push to strike a deal to salvage powersharing in Northern Ireland.

A fresh round of talks to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland must find a solution in "weeks rather than months", leaders have been warned.

Sinn Féin's Stormont leader has said there is no basis for powersharing negotiations to resume unless the UK and Irish governments commit to delivering on "rights" based issues.

Theresa May has called for renewed talks to break Stormont's powersharing impasse as two rows about the legacy of the Troubles emerged as further roadblocks in the way of a deal.

Sinn Fein leader in the North Michelle O’Neill has called on the UK and Irish governments to intervene in the powersharing deadlock at Stormont to act on outstanding issues.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned that Northern Ireland is “sliding towards” direct rule from Britain after the collapse of talks between Sinn Féin and the DUP about forming a government.

Theresa May remains committed to a £1 billion investment in Northern Ireland despite the continued deadlock in Stormont powersharing, a senior Downing Street source has said.

In a forthright assessment of the impasse, the Fine Gael leader said "big things" were not being dealt with in the North.

The UK Government has announced negotiations to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland will be allowed to extend until Monday, despite Stormont parties missing today’s statutory deadline to reach agreement.

Latest: Adams said: “We don’t believe that any deal between the DUP here and the English Tories will be good for the people here."

Emergency powers to give Stormont's rowing political parties more time to strike a powersharing deal have now cleared Britain's Parliament.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has warned of a snap election or a return to direct rule if Stormont parties fail to form a government by early May.

The deadline for restoring powersharing in Northern Ireland runs out later.