The Taoiseach says holding off on a new election in Northern Ireland, to allow protocol talks time to develop, is the right thing to do. Legislation is being introduced that will formally delay the next ballot and also cut politicians' pay while power sharing is deadlocked.
The Northern Secretary previously said he'd trigger an election if an agreement wasn't reached by October 28th - but he failed to do so. Power sharing is still frozen for the moment, as the DUP refuses to end it's boycott over post Brexit trading arrangements.
Micheal Martin says there has been a desire from both the EU and UK to find a resolution where the protocol is concerned. "There is a very clear view from those in business and in industry that on the whole the Protocol has been working for manufacturing and the food industry.
"There are some issues that can be resolved by negotiation and it's in the best interests of everybody that we do resolve them by negotiation," added the Taoiseach.
