Irish government officials held an informal meeting with leading members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Dublin in recent months, a report has claimed.
According to The Sunday Business Postthe officials met with leading DUP figureheads Mr Peter Robinson and Mr Gregory Campbell, with one meeting, attended by Campbell, held at the British Ambassador's residence in Dublin. Campbell is also understood to have met with officials at a number of social events.
The meeting's are part of the government's strategy to establish a series of bilateral talks involving republicans and unionists, the report claims.
However, Mr Robinson last week denied any such contact had taken place.
The DUP has overtaken the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) as the leading voice of Ulster unionism, after winning 30 seats in last Thursday's Assemly elections.