The new Secretary of State has said there is a "fairly obvious landing zone" to resolve through negotiations an impasse over Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
Chris Heaton-Harris was facing his first questions from MPs in the House of Commons a day after being appointed by Prime Minster Liz Truss as Northern Ireland secretary.
He replaced Shailesh Vara, who had been in post for just 61 days after Brandon Lewis resigned during the turmoil that ended Boris Johnson's premiership.
Read more: Analysis: Liz Truss success or failure in Northern Ireland still shaped by Brexit fall-out
Mr Heaton-Harris said he would prefer a negotiated settlement with European Union, but the government would continue progressing a bill to override the Irish Sea trade deal.
He was responding to MP Sir Oliver Heald who asked if he agreed there was "obviously a landing zone" for a resolution on the protocol.
Mr Heaton-Harris replied: "I too believe and indeed I thought when I left the Foreign Office back in February, that there was a fairly obvious landing zone for the negotiations and I very much hope and believe that is the case today.
"I think everything can be sorted out by negotiations. But we do have legislation which we will use if not."
He told MPs he was "very keen we try and negotiate a solution with the European Union" but added that "if we do not get a negotiated solution we will legislate".
Mr Heaton-Harris also said he would urge Stormont party leaders to form a new power-sharing Executive "as soon as possible".
Stormont has been in limbo since February after the DUP withdrew its First Minister from the power-sharing Executive in protest over the protocol.
The post-Brexit deal has angered unionists for introducing new checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
In his opening remarks to the Commons, Mr Heaton-Harris told MPs: "I will be speaking to each of the Northern Ireland party leaders and will urge them to form an Executive as soon as possible.
"I know the House shares my view that Northern Ireland needs a stable, fully-functioning devolved government to deliver on the issues that matter to people most."
DUP MP Sammy Wilson told Mr Heaton-Harris: "I hope he will be successful in doing what is necessary to get Stormont restored, namely removing the poison of the protocol."
Mr Heaton-Harris is expected in Northern Ireland on Thursday for meetings with political leaders.
Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill tweeted: "I will meet with Chris Heaton-Harris tomorrow and will make it clear that his first priority must be getting an Executive up and running.
"Workers, families and small businesses need our help now. There can be no more delays."
Mr Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry in England, was previously chief whip for the government.
A self-described "fierce Eurosceptic", the 54-year-old was chairman of the European Research Group of pro-Brexit Conservative MPs between 2010 and 2016.
The staunch Brexiteer was previously Minister of State for Europe, assisting Ms Truss as Foreign Secretary on discussions over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
He faced criticism in 2017 when he wrote to universities asking for the names of those teaching courses on Brexit.
The MP has also been an active and qualified football referee for more than three decades, according to his website.
The appointment of Mr Heaton-Harris followed claims that Ms Truss had been "struggling" to fill the Secretary of State post.
Tory leadership contender Penny Mordaunt, former Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Welsh Secretary Robert Buckland had all turned down the role, according to Politico's Playbook.
"It appears no-one wants to get Brexit done after all," the politics news platform reported.
During a Conservative leadership hustings outside Belfast last month, Ms Truss said the person she would appoint would be the "absolute best at delivering for the people of Northern Ireland".
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