First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill has said that her priority is stability and cohesion in the wake of Jeffrey Donaldson's shock resignation.
"My priority as First Minister is to provide that stability, to work with all the other party leaders, all those who form our Executive," she said, speaking in Dublin at an event to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising.
"We're a four-party coalition and I think now more than ever, what we need to see is cohesion.
"I have over the course of the last couple of days spoken to all the other party leaders, including the new interim leader of the DUP.
"And it's really, really important now that we knuckle down and ... do the business of government."
Mr Donaldson quit as DUP leader on Friday after being charged with historical sexual offences.
It is understood that in a letter to party officers informing them of the allegations, Mr Donaldson made clear he would be "strenuously contesting" all charges against him.
Harris praises leadership for putting 'the people's business to the fore'
Fine Gael leader and Minister for Further Education Simon Harris has praised the Stormont leadership for putting "the people's business to the fore".
Mr Harris, who is expected to be voted in as Taoiseach on Tuesday 9 April, said he spoke with Ms O'Neill at the 1916 Easter Rising commemoration.
Asked about the resignation of Mr Donaldson as DUP leader, Mr Harris said: "I'm very conscious that there is a criminal justice process under way.
"I'm very conscious of the need for everybody to respect that process and the sensitivities around it outside of political and media commentary.
"As a political leader, my priority is to continue to support the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, to continue to engage on a North-South, East-West basis in every way that we can.
"I very much welcome the comments of the First Minister and the deputy First Minister in recent days in relation to ensuring that the people's business remains to the fore of all their minds.
"From the Irish Government's point of view, and indeed from my own personal point of view, our priority will be continuing to work North-South, continuing to work with all of the parties in Northern Ireland, continuing to work with the Executive.
"I certainly would welcome an opportunity to work closely in terms of the East-West as well and would hope to have an early engagement with the British Prime Minister."
Stability 'really important' - Ryan
Green Party leader and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the message of stability from Stormont leaders was "really important".
"I think the message from the various party leaders that they're going to provide that stability and continue delivering for the people up North is really important," he said.
"We have a North-South Ministerial (Council) coming up and we'll be very much encouraging the use of the institutions, the need for political leadership.
"I think all the leaders up North and all the parties have an obligation, in my mind, to provide that now."
East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson, who was deputy leader of the DUP, has been appointed interim leader of the party.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris welcomed Mr Robinson's appointment.
"It has been two months since we saw the return of Stormont," he said.
"In that time we have seen how the political parties of Northern Ireland can work together, with the First and deputy First Ministers demonstrating in word and deed their commitment to making Stormont work for everyone in Northern Ireland."
Mr Donaldson's exit from the political frontline sent shockwaves through Stormont, less than two months after devolution was restored following a two-year stalemate over post-Brexit trading arrangements.
The Lagan Valley MP was pivotal to the deal that resurrected power-sharing, and his sudden departure, and the manner of it, has created the first major challenge for the recently formed four-party coalition.
Mr Robinson was closely aligned to Mr Donaldson's political strategy, so his elevation is unlikely to see the DUP step back from its recent backing of power-sharing.
However, Mr Robinson's election as permanent leader is not a foregone conclusion and it remains to be seen if other candidates, potentially more sceptical of the return of devolution, will emerge.
Mr Robinson sent a message to party colleagues yesterday offering reassurances, saying the DUP was "not about any one individual".
However, veteran DUP MP Sammy Wilson admitted that the party had been plunged into "turmoil".
Mr Wilson gave his full backing to Mr Robinson, saying the DUP should not be distracted by a leadership contest this side of a UK general election.
