The DUP's decision to remove its First Minister from the Northern Ireland Assembly is 'regrettable'.
That's view of the Foreign Affairs Minister after the resignation of Paul Givan took effect at midnight, which automatically led to the removal of the Deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill.
It comes amid ongoing tensions over the Northern Ireland protocol.
Minister Simon Coveney says negotiations with the EU and UK government were ongoing and now was not the time for the DUP to pull the plug.
