The Tánaiste is travelling to Belfast today as efforts to restore power-sharing are set to resume.
Northern secretary Julian Smith says he will call Stormont elections if a deal is not in place by January 13th.
Efforts to strike a deal failed before Christmas, but they will begin again tomorrow with all the North’s parties.
It’s understood Simon Coveney will have informal meetings with them in Belfast tonight.
The DUP was blamed for the impasse before Christmas, and Sligo/Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny is urging them to do a deal this time.
