Former Taoiseach and one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement, Bertie Ahern, has said business along the border should be in a stronger position, especially in the north.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show this week, Mr Ahern said it is too difficult to attract outside investment while the north's executive is
suspended.
Mr Ahern said the south is "well ahead" of Northern Ireland and without "workable institutions" risks falling further behind.
He also said one of his regrets is that "the economic bounce-back" that Northern Ireland should have experienced after the Good Friday Agreement has not happened.
He did not agree this was because of as lack of international investors during the years of the Troubles.
The work being done by Joe Kennedy, America's special envoy to Northern Ireland would benefit the border regions, Mr Ahern said, but those efforts are stifled by the lack of stable government in the north.
