The Taoiseach says it doesn't look like fresh elections in Northern Ireland can be avoided.
Fresh ballots will be called if a Stormont Executive can't be formed by next Friday.
The DUP have been holding out while demanding changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says it now looks likely fresh elections will be called:
"From the meetings I had on Monday, there doesn't appear to be a likelihood that the Executive, or indeed the Assembly, will be restored by the deadline. The British government are adamant, and the outgoing government was adamant, that there will be elections".
