Protocol difficulties 'not stopping North from working properly'

Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald said all were agreed that the way forward is clear - the DUP need to stop blocking the formation of an Executive

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said it is the Irish government’s position to urge the UK government to get into talks with the EU. File picture

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has insisted that difficulties with the protocol are not “stopping the North from working properly”.

The Taoiseach was speaking as a leading delegation of US politicians were in Dublin meeting with him, President Michael D Higgins, and Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald about the current impasse in Belfast.