An agreement has been reached to establish a new round of talks involving all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, Theresa May and Leo Varadkar have said in a joint statement.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney will further press the British government today to reinstate a special conference between both governments to assist the resumption of power-sharing in the North.

The British government was today told to resist efforts by hardline unionists to alter the Good Friday Agreement.

The Irish and British Governments have issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to the Good Friday Agreement.