Irish and British government ministers are to meet for a formal summit on Northern Ireland in June.
It will be the first British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to be held for two years.
The decision was made at a meeting today between Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis in Dublin.
They met this afternoon for talks about a range of issues, including the ongoing political instability in Northern Ireland and disagreements over Britain's EU exit deal.
Mr Lewis will also meet Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.
Speaking after the meeting Mr Coveney said: "You will see a lot more interaction between the two governments in the weeks ahead.
"Northern Ireland is in a fragile place right now and the leadership of the DUP is changing," Mr Coveney added.
He said there was a political conversation with Mr Lewis about the "state of play" in Northern Ireland.
They also discussed how the institutions under the Good Friday Agreement should be protected including the Executive and the Assembly in Northern Ireland.
Secretary for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis exiting Dept Foreign Affairs after meeting Min Simon Coveney. pic.twitter.com/l9tBgg5b6M
— David Murphy (@davidmurphyRTE) May 5, 2021
The Taoiseach and Minister Coveney have both expressed concern in recent weeks about a deterioration in north-south political relations.
DUP ministers, including party leadership candidate Edwin Poots, have pulled out of three recent north-south ministerial council meetings.
There is concern that the party will take a tougher stance and possibly boycott a scheduled full plenary session of the North-South Ministerial Council in June as part of its campaign against the Northern Ireland. protocol.
