NI's political leaders meet US delegation in Belfast as efforts to restore Stormont continue

Northern Ireland's political leaders have met with a US business delegation in Belfast.

The American delegation is being led by special envoy Joe Kennedy.

Following the separate meetings, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says "significant gaps" remain between the Government and the DUP in talks over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Mr Donaldson would not predict any timeframe for a conclusion to negotiations which could lead to a return of the Stormont powersharing institutions, but said that progress was being made.

The DUP has been blocking powersharing for more than a year in protest at the internal UK trade barriers created by Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.

The party has been involved in negotiations with the Government about the Windsor Framework, which reformed the protocol and is seeking further assurances, by way of legislation, over Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said if the DUP were not going to return to government, then the British and Irish governments should enable the return of Stormont.

She said: "I'm not going to be embarrassed on behalf of the DUP. I am ready to do my job.

"It is up to others to allow us to do that. If it is not going to be the DUP going back into government then it needs to be the UK and Irish governments enabling those of us who are willing to go back into government to be able to do that."

The momentum created by the US visit should be the spur to restore the Stormont powersharing institutions, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill said.

Following her meeting Ms O'Neill said she was determined that the Assembly should come back as a "matter of urgency".

US President Joe Biden promised the delegation when he visited Northern Ireland earlier this year.