The new leader of the Democratic Unionist Party has said he hopes to speak with the Taoiseach in the next few days.
Speaking on his first day since being formally confirmed as the new party leader, Edwin Poots said that contact has not yet been made with the Irish Government.
"Not just yet, I've had a busy morning. But we will engage and I have always had a good working relationship with my friends in the Republic of Ireland", he said.
When asked when he hopes to speak to the Taoiseach, Mr Poots said "I'd hope that will happen in the next few days".
Speaking to RTÉ News, Mr Poots struck a more conciliatory tone towards the Irish Government, after last night saying that relations were "really, really bad" and criticising Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney over the introduction of the Northern Ireland protocol.
"I don't have any issue, as a unionist, working with my friends and colleauges in the Republic of Ireland. And I'd hope that they will work with me to ensure that they do not punish Irish or British people living in Northern Ireland, in the way they're currently doing and that's something they really need to reflect on and withdraw from", he said.
Earlier, the Tánaiste responded to Mr Poots' remarks last night by saying he was not going to get "too concerned or too bothered" by the remarks, but said he stood over the Northern Ireland protocol to protect the country from the introduction of a hard border.
Mr Varadkar said: "The protocol was put in place because there had to be checks somewhere, and we felt it was better to be in two ports rather than in several counties along a land border and I stand over that decision to protect the country from a hard border.
"It was the right thing to do in the circumstances."
He said he acknowledged there were some "practical difficulties with the protocol" that they would be happy to work with the Northern Ireland Executive, the British Government and the European Commission on.
Today, Mr Poots told RTÉ News that there are "other ways of doing things without having a hard border on the island of Ireland".
He said he thinks that is "entirely achievable" and that he would work with Mr Varadkar to "ensure there are no barriers on the island of Ireland".
"None of us were looking for there to be any borders in Ireland. But none of us are looking for there to be a border at the Irish Sea either, and he needs to work with us to ensure that we can all work together to protect the single market."
Mr Poots has replaced Arlene Foster as the new leader of the DUP. Ms Foster has confirmed that she will leave the party when she steps down as First Minister of Northern Ireland.
She also said that if Mr Poots appoints a new ministerial team on Tuesday, she will step down immediately as first minister.
