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Irish PM agrees date for cross-border meeting Irish PM agrees date for cross-border meeting
(32 minutes later)
The first and deputy first ministers and Taoiseach (Irish PM) have agreed to hold a meeting of the north-south ministerial Council on 31 July.The first and deputy first ministers and Taoiseach (Irish PM) have agreed to hold a meeting of the north-south ministerial Council on 31 July.
Micheál Martin met Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill for joint talks at Stormont castle for the first time since becoming taoseach.Micheál Martin met Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill for joint talks at Stormont castle for the first time since becoming taoseach.
They also discussed the two governments' response to the Covid crisis and Brexit.They also discussed the two governments' response to the Covid crisis and Brexit.
Mr Martin is due to meet the three other main Stormont parties shortly. Mr Martin also met other Stormont parties.
The trip was originally expected to take place last week, but was postponed due to late planning. Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said he believed the party's meeting with the Taoiseach represented an opportunity to "reset relations".
Speaking after the meeting he said he believed relations with the Irish government had not been as good over the past three years and he hoped this would change under Mr Martin's administration.
'Significant and substantial''Significant and substantial'
The deputy first minister described the joint meeting with Mr Martin and Arlene Foster as "significant and substantial".The deputy first minister described the joint meeting with Mr Martin and Arlene Foster as "significant and substantial".
Michelle O'Neill said she appreciated that Mr Martin had visited Stormont so early in his tenure.Michelle O'Neill said she appreciated that Mr Martin had visited Stormont so early in his tenure.
"We had a good discussion about a number of issues including our response to Covid," she added."We had a good discussion about a number of issues including our response to Covid," she added.
Quarantine rulesQuarantine rules
Ms O'Neill said the differences in quarantine rules in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were discussed and that she believed announcements would be made next week.Ms O'Neill said the differences in quarantine rules in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were discussed and that she believed announcements would be made next week.
"We talked about the fact that we do need to be aligned as much as possible," she said."We talked about the fact that we do need to be aligned as much as possible," she said.
Last week the Stormont Executive changed its rules so that people coming from almost 60 countries into NI do not need to self-isolate when they arrive.Last week the Stormont Executive changed its rules so that people coming from almost 60 countries into NI do not need to self-isolate when they arrive.
Irish authorities require anyone entering the Republic of Ireland, apart from those from Northern Ireland, to self-isolate for 14 days.Irish authorities require anyone entering the Republic of Ireland, apart from those from Northern Ireland, to self-isolate for 14 days.
That advice remains in place until 20 July.That advice remains in place until 20 July.
Mr Martin has said the Irish government remains cautious about travel off the island of Ireland.Mr Martin has said the Irish government remains cautious about travel off the island of Ireland.
Brexit and the issue of how north south relations should develop are also expected to form part of the discussions.Brexit and the issue of how north south relations should develop are also expected to form part of the discussions.
Date for next North-South Ministerial CouncilDate for next North-South Ministerial Council
The North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) is the main body for cross-border co-operation between the governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.The North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) is the main body for cross-border co-operation between the governments of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
It is attended by ministers from both sides of the border who oversee joint working in areas such as trade, food safety and agriculture.It is attended by ministers from both sides of the border who oversee joint working in areas such as trade, food safety and agriculture.
It has not met in full since November 2016 because of the suspension of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government.It has not met in full since November 2016 because of the suspension of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government.
The assembly was restored in January 2020 but only a handful of ministers attended an impromptu meeting of the council in March, as the Covid-19 pandemic began to take hold.The assembly was restored in January 2020 but only a handful of ministers attended an impromptu meeting of the council in March, as the Covid-19 pandemic began to take hold.