Talks to restore Northern Ireland's Assembly look likely to begin tomorrow following Friday's general election in the UK.
Parties across the political spectrum have stated their intent to get back around the negotiating table.
It also appears that despite the election shake-up, Julian Smith will remain Northern Ireland Secretary of State.
Mr Smith spoke with all five party leaders this morning and later tweeted: "Good calls with all five party leaders this morning. Look forward to starting positive process tomorrow to get Stormont back up and running."
Stormont has been in cold storage for more than 1,000 days due to a stand-off between Sinn Féin and the DUP on issues such as Irish language legislation and a ban on same-sex marriage.
Public opinion over the stalemate has had a detrimental effect on the two major parties and this has been reflected in recent elections.
The DUP suffered a considerable blow after party deputy leader Nigel Dodds lost his seat in North Belfast to Sinn Féin's John Finucane.
Likewise, Sinn Féin lost its seat in Foyle to the SDLP by a huge majority, in what is being seen as resurgence in support for Colum Eastwood's party.
They also took a seat from the DUP in South Belfast.
Good calls with all five party leaders this morning. Look forward to starting positive process tomorrow to get Stormont back up and running pic.twitter.com/O2qPXcfoqE
— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) December 15, 2019
It is understood both the DUP and Sinn Féin are keen to be seen to getting back around the table to restore confidence with the electorate before any further elections.
Mr Smith had previously stated that unless agreement is reached by 13 January, fresh assembly elections will be triggered
Sinn Féin's Martin Kenny said his party "absolutely wants to be back in Stormont" in January.
Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, he said: "We don't have any red lines, all we have called for is that all parties need to agree to implement the agreements that have already been reached."
Speaking in the same programme, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said his own attention is also on Belfast where he will be hoping to make progress there this week to get Stormont back up and running.
Mr Coveney said he thinks an all-party Executive would be the best option for Northern Ireland that could put an end to the polarisation of the last three years.
"We have had three years of political stagnation which has been very damaging and polarising not only for political parties, but for communities as well."
He added that following the UK election, he believes all parties recognise that the feedback from the ground is that people want their government back and political decisions being made in Northern Ireland for the region.
"We need even to get basic political decisions made around housing, healthcare, education - all the things that have been put on hold."
Mr Coveney said he has been working on getting Stormont back up and running for the past two years and more recently with Mr Smith.
"If he is reappointed tomorrow by Boris Johnson we will be ready to go this week. To work with the parties and to help them get that foundation in place for a stable Executive which I think all parties now recognise, including the DUP, that they would like to move on and achieve."
He insisted that the new Executive must be different to the previous one and ideally not have an opposition.
"They need to try to deal with legacy issues which are painful and complicated.
"The way to do that in my view is an all-party Executive so people, even though they find it difficult because of different identities and visions for the future as regards Northern Ireland, but that they work together in an Executive together.
"And that is what we are trying to achieve now as opposed to trying to create divisions in Northern Ireland with a government and opposition."
However,he said, ultimately it is for the parties to decide.
Additional Reporting PA
