New Northern Ireland Secretary Shailesh Vara has visited the region for the first time since his appointment.
Mr Vara was appointed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday following the resignation of Brandon Lewis.
Mr Lewis joined scores of Conservative ministers who left the Cabinet in a revolt against Mr Johnson, who later announced his own resignation - though he intends to stay in post until his successor is found.
Mr Vara visited the Prince's Trust in Belfast today, where he met young people supported by the charity's work.
He said: "It was fantastic to visit the Prince's Trust on my first visit to Northern Ireland as Secretary of State today and learn more about how the charity supports young people by developing their confidence and the skills needed to succeed through education, training and employment.
"As we build a fairer, more equal, and tolerant society in Northern Ireland, the government remains committed to increasing respect, understanding and reconciliation between communities in Northern Ireland, and helping to build a better environment for future generations.
"I look forward to meeting with more people from across Northern Ireland in the days and weeks ahead."
'Wait and see' how new PM will address NI Protocol
Policy manager for Northern Ireland with freight organisation Logistics UK has said that the business community is "sitting back" and it is a case of "wait and see" how the new PM will address the NI Protocol debacle.
Speaking to RTÉ's News at One, Seamus Leheny said: "We don't really know who the future Prime Minister is going to be and really what their policy will be with regards to the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill that was recently introduced in Parliament".
He said that it remains to be seen if changes in Downing Street will lead to a "more diplomatic" or a "more distant" relationship with the European Union.
Earlier, a DUP MP described the new British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Shailesh Vara as someone who "will do what is needed".
Mr Vara spoke with the leaders of the Stormont parties by phone yesterday afternoon.
Mr Vara previously served as a Minister of State for Northern Ireland in 2018.
DUP MP Carla Lockhart said she believes Mr Vara "understands Northern Ireland".
"I have spoken with him several times in Westminster on a personal level. He is very sympathetic to Northern Ireland," she said.
"He is someone who understands Northern Ireland. He obviously was appointed before as minister and I do believe that he will be someone who will be a friend to Northern Ireland and will do what's needed," she added.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Lockhart said the DUP wants to see action from the British government on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
"We want to see them continue with what they have started and we look forward to that happening," she said.
The DUP MP for Upper Bann said the party is asking people to back the British government's bill and "return Northern Ireland to its rightful place so that we can benefit from Brexit".
Ms Lockhart said that the protocol is causing difficulties for people.
"It is driving up costs in Northern Ireland. It's impacting everyone on a daily basis. You look at the VAT cuts that the rest of Great Britain have been able to enjoy that we haven't because of, ultimately, the protocol," she said.
Boris Johnson's successor "will be a decision for the Conservative government", she said.
"Ultimately it is for them to decide and then we will work with whoever is there. We were obviously working well with Boris on the protocol bill. We trust that whoever takes up that post will work with us and will value Northern Ireland and value the union," Ms Lockhart added.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said a new Conservative Party leader "will have to reset relations".
Speaking on the same programme, she said Mr Johnson has been "particularly negative" and "there will be no tears shed on his departure".
"A new leader will have to reset relations. Our dealings with Tory prime ministers in particular are always difficult.
"Tory governments are not good for Ireland. Partition is not good for Ireland, let's face it, but Boris Johnson has been particularly negative and I'm sure there will be no tears shed on his departure," she said.
'A new leader has to reset relations,' Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said after the resignation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson | https://t.co/XDOIhZhlx1 pic.twitter.com/Jue3U4hVYj
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 8, 2022
Ms McDonald said a British government that respects international law is needed.
"It is very important that the would-be successor, whoever that might be, hears loudly and clearly from Ireland that we need an Executive in the North.
"We need a government in Britain that acts in good faith, respects international law and that Ireland will not be the collateral damage for their Brexit or their power plays," she added.
Vice president of Sinn Féin Michelle O'Neill described Boris Johnson as a "man of no standing whatsoever".
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Ms O'Neill said that comments made by her party leader about Mr Johnson's engagement with Ireland hit "the nail on the head"
"He has been wholly negative," she said.
"Everything he has done throughout his tenure has been to deliver austerity to our people, to bring us the disaster that is Brexit and during his leadership he has consistently undermined the Good Friday Agreement at every turn."
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said he did not discuss with the new Northern Ireland Secretary whether MLAs would be paid if the Stormont Executive is not up and running.
He said they did discuss "the need for both of us to focus on getting a functioning Executive and Assembly again in Northern Ireland."
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Coveney said he would "suspect" Mr Vara has a view on whether MLAs are paid if they continue to refuse to form a functioning assembly and he thinks it would be very similar to Brandon Lewis's view.
He said that the EU wants to improve relation with the British government and EU leaders want to try to use this leadership change as a recess.
"I think that there is a rump in the Conservative Party that actually want tension with the EU and in some way, they see that as a way of showing how committed they are to British sovereignty and independence from the EU and so on."
But he said he thinks that the Brexiteers will have learned some lessons about just how divisive Brexit debates have been on Mr Johnson's leadership.
