The cross-Border meeting of health ministers was dismissed yesterday as "a face-saving exercise" by Sir Reg Empey, the Ulster Unionist Minister of Trade.
The bilateral meeting between Mr Martin and Ms Bairbre de Brun in Enniskillen was referred to by Sir Reg as "a meeting of nationalists".
It was prevented from taking place under the auspices of the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) after the North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, imposed a ban on Sinn Fein Ministers attending NSMC meetings in the absence of IRA contact with the de Chastelain decommissioning body.
"It's put together to give the impression that nothing has happened, that in fact there hasn't been any change, that the meeting that was planned is going ahead as normal, but it's not," Sir Reg said.
He said the solution was simple - "They must engage with Gen de Chastelain".
If Sinn Fein mounted a legal challenge to the Trimble ban, "we'll deal with that whenever it happens, but I can't anticipate the outcome of a court action".
Sir Reg spoke to reporters after two cross-Border projects were inaugurated in Dublin, which were also attended by the Tanaiste. Ms Harney said the uncertainty surrounding the present impasse was not good for the peace process.