Enda Kenny appeals to Northern parties to accept their responsibility

The Taoiseach has appealed to the parties in Northern Ireland to accept their responsibility and save the Stormont institutions.

Enda Kenny has spoken for the first time since Peter Robinson stepped aside as First Minister and most of the DUP Ministers quit.

Finance Minister Arlene Foster didn't resign and becomes acting First Minister, but there's only a week left for talks to save the collapse of the Assembly and the triggering of elections.

Addressing the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party in Adare in Co. Limerick tonight, Enda Kenny appealed for the political parties to come back from the brink: "The Government are willing and available to support and work in any way with the parties in Northern Ireland in the interest of getting the executive and the assembly back on track.

"The opportunity and time is quite limited, but I do hope that leadership within the parties will reflect upon the responsibility given to them by the people and that they would take that responsibility on board."