Leaders from Dublin, London and Stormont held talks in Belfast to address the ongoing row over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which requires EU checks on British goods.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar voiced concern that an agreement on the protocol would not revive the region's cross-community government, urging that enforcement measures at Northern Ireland ports be softened.
Varadkar held talks in Northern Ireland with representatives of the largest parties, while UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also visited Stormont on Thursday.
Irish deputy PM and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin also met with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris at Hillsborough.
Talks were held between leaders from Dublin, London and Stormont to resolve tensions over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar voiced concern enforcement measures at Northern Ireland ports were too strict and rigid, and urged for them to be softened.
He expressed hope that the ongoing discussions between UK and EU negotiators would end the two-year standoff over enforcement.
However, he also cautioned that this alone might not persuade the Democratic Unionist Party to revive the Northern Ireland Assembly and its cross-community executive at Stormont, as their participation is crucial.
UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also visited Stormont on Thursday, indicating the significance of the issue to British political leaders across the political spectrum.