Tánaiste Simon Coveney has met the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Belfast.
Julian Smith was appointed to replace Karen Bradley in Boris Johnson's new cabinet.
Mr Smith and the Tánaiste discussed the progress made in all-party talks to re-establish the Stormont executive, with Minister Coveney saying he stressed the need to get it "back up and running".
Talks to restore the executive have now been underway for 12 weeks.
Good meeting with new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland @JulianSmithUK. I stressed the need to get Stormont back up and running and the importance of the Irish & British governments working together as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement.🇮🇪 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/wUwkw2BEll
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) July 26, 2019
Simon Coveney was also expected to stress the importance of all sides in Northern Ireland being heard and not just the view of the Conservatives Party's partners in government, the DUP.
During his trip to Belfast, Mr Smith will meet with representatives of some of the Northern Irish political parties.
Meeting with British Secretary of State Julian Smith in Belfast this morning @moneillsf @conormurphysf
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) July 26, 2019
Yesterday, Sinn Féin's vice-president Michelle O'Neill called on the new Northern Ireland secretary to legislate for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse.
She argued: “It is now up to Julian Smith in his first days in office to act in good faith and legislate to meet the needs of victims and survivors as a matter of urgency.”
DUP leader Arlene Foster also urged Mr Smith to move towards implementing legislation on historical abuse.
She added that his new role has a "considerable workload", noting: "I am glad that he is getting down to work straight away and will meet all the local parties.
"I hope the Secretary of State shares my desire to see devolution restored and that progress can be made in the talks."
