Q Radio News
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has urged DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to nominate a deputy first minister to allow resumption of fully functioning devolved government.
Mr Lewis was speaking hours after the conclusion of a Stormont election which saw an historic victory for Sinn Fein to become the largest party and win the entitlement to nominate a first minister.
The US and Irish administrations have also urged parties to take the necessary steps to re-establish a power-sharing executive.
Sir Jeffrey has called for action on the Northern Ireland Protocol before re-entering the executive.
Mr Lewis restated his position that the Government would like to reach agreement with the EU over resolving issues with the protocol, but said nothing has been taken off the table.
He urged Sir Jeffrey to nominate a deputy first minister to get devolved government fully working again.
The executive has been unable to fully function since February when the former first minister Paul Givan resigned as part of the DUP’s call for action against the protocol.
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