Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is hopeful that an agreement can be reached between the EU and the UK on the Northern Ireland Protocol which will unlock the Stormont stalemate.After meeting with political parties in Belfast, Mr Varadkar said protocol negotiations were "not in the proverbial tunnel yet" but said he would like to see a deal which was acceptable to unionists.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is hopeful that an agreement can be reached between the EU and the UK on the Northern Ireland Protocol which will unlock the Stormont stalemate.After meeting with political parties in Belfast, Mr Varadkar said protocol negotiations were "not in the proverbial tunnel yet" but said he would like to see a deal which was acceptable to unionists.