Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has warned that if the welfare row in Northern Ireland is not resolved there is no future for the Executive.
He was speaking after a meeting of the British Irish Council in Dublin Castle.
The Taoiseach, who chaired the meeting, said he briefed the council on his meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday.
He also briefed them on issues relating to Northern Ireland as well as the forthcoming EU referendum in the UK.
Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin made a presentation on alcohol abuse.
Mr Robinson told a news conference that unless the difficulties involving welfare were resolved there is no future for the Northern Executive.
He said the impasse was already impacting on the economy in Northern Ireland.
NI Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the standoff had nothing to do with the constitutional position of Northern Ireland but centred on the economic situation.
He claimed the Executive had been starved of €1.5bn by the British government.
Mr McGuinness insisted that Northern Ireland was a society emerging from conflict, with disproportionately more vulnerable people reliant on welfare.
On Europe, he said were the UK to withdraw from the EU it would be a hammer blow for Northern Ireland.
