The government today issued a fresh election ultimatum as talks over the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol ended in London with no deal.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said that if a powersharing agreement is not in place by October 28, he will call for a fresh vote in a hope of ending turmoil in Stormont.
But Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said such a move would add further division amid fraught relations between parties, branding it an "unnecessary election".
Mr Coveney told reporters in London that the attitude of the British government appeared to have changed since Boris Johnson left office, saying: "We're in a different space where there's a genuine effort that we haven't seen since last February."
Both sides say they are "doing everything possible" to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, following a meeting of the British-Irish intergovernmental conference in London.
Speaking at a press conference Mr Heaton-Harris said: "I am under no illusions of the issues around it, but, yes, I will be calling an election on October 28th if an Executive is not formed."
Mr Coveney warned that there was also a danger that the unsolved row of the Northern Ireland Protocol would become a dividing line once again in what he called an "unnecessary election".
"Of course, an election means that issues like that will become totem issue again," he said.
The Irish politician said: "What we're after is a 0-0 draw where everybody feels they can walk away having not won or lost, but they can live with the outcome."
In a joint communique, issued following the meeting, both countries also "noted the ongoing discussions to address issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol and to find an agreed way forward".
"The UK and Irish governments reaffirmed their commitment to doing everything possible to facilitate the re-establishment of the Executive by October 28 and the full functioning of all of the political institutions established by the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement including the North South Ministerial Council.
"They agreed on the importance of respecting the agreement in totality."
Legacy issues in Northern Ireland were also discussed, as was the UK Government's controversial proposals to address it - widely opposed on the island of Ireland.
"The conference discussed the approach to the legacy of Northern Ireland's past and the value of further engagement on this crucial issue, in particular the Irish Government's concerns with the UK Government's proposed legislation and how those concerns might be addressed."
