An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today insisted the deadlock in Northern Ireland’s political process could be broken.
Mr Ahern conceded the election results were not what everyone would have liked but he said democrats had to make them work.
Both the Irish and British governments had made it clear the Good Friday Agreement could be reviewed but they were not prepared to make fundamental changes to it, he said.
However, he added that he remained optimistic about the prospects of progress.
Mr Ahern told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "I believe there are lots of things to be optimistic about and lots of opportunities to make things work and make the Good Friday Agreement work."