Brokenshire not preparing for return to direct rule if parties fail to agree after Assembly election

The Secretary of State has told UTV he is not preparing for a return to direct rule if the parties fail to reach agreement after the Assembly elections.

James Brokenshire also ruled out any kind of amnesty on legacy issues.

He was speaking after holding talks with the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan in Dublin.

"If we don't get an Executive within the three-week period then I am obliged to call another election within a reasonable period of time," he explained.

"Therefore there is a lot at stake here.

"But thinking about the bigger picture and the future of Northern Ireland, that is best served by getting back into an Executive."

It has been a busy 48 hours for Mr Brokenshire in Dublin - he has been meeting with business leaders and politicians.

Most of the discussions have involved Brexit, but it appears matters closer to home have not been far from his mind.

It's no secret that the parties plan to go into negotiations after the election and one of the key issues will be legacy.

Mr Brokenshire said any kind of amnesty is off the table.

"I'm not considering anything other than the Stormont House bodies - I think that those legacy institutions are the right way to address things in a balanced, proportionate, appropriate way," he added.