Starmer speaks of relationship ‘reset’ with Ireland

Taoiseach Simon Harris and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have spoken about the importance of resetting the relationship between the two countries as they met in Dublin.

This is the first official visit of a British prime minister since 2019 when Boris Johnson was in Dublin at the height of the Brexit negotiations.

Mr Harris and Mr Starmer have announced a new annual summit between the two countries beginning next March.

The two leaders had a working lunch at Farmleigh House before hosting a roundtable of Irish business leaders.

Speaking at Farmleigh, Mr Starmer said that the fact they were meeting formally for the second time in nine weeks was significant.

We need your consent to load this comcast-player contentWe use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

“This shows a real intention on both our parts to reset this relationship and renew the relationship and deepen it. That will be of great benefit to Ireland and the UK”.

Taoiseach Simon Harris greeting ⁦@Keir_Starmer⁩ at Farmleigh pic.twitter.com/2iNGgkeOj4

— Sandra Hurley (@sandra_hurley) September 7, 2024

The Taoiseach wished Mr Starmer “a hundred thousand welcomes” as the two leaders held a bilateral meeting.

Mr Harris, who described Mr Starmer as his friend, said: “It’s a really great honour to host you here today on your first official visit to Ireland as Prime Minister.”

He added: “We both said we wish to really place British-Irish relations on a new path and I really appreciate the time that you’ve given to us since taking office, and I’ve tried to respond in kind.

Read more: Taoiseach recalls 7-0 defeat ahead of big game

“We obviously had a call within hours of you being in Downing Street, we had a very productive meeting in Chequers in July, and I think today we’re here at Dublin to probably try to flesh out what a reset actually looks like, and what it looks like in a practical sense for our citizens on both islands.”

Mr Harris said a reset in relations had to be embedded in “peace and prosperity, mutual respect and friendship”.

He said their “most solemn duty” as leaders of the UK and Irish governments was as co-guarantors of the peace process in Northern Ireland.

They attended the Republic of Ireland v England UEFA Nations’ League match together at the Aviva Stadium.

Mr Harris said the relationship between the two countries may face challenges, including during the match, but added: “We will have intense and friendly competition, and then we will renew and reset again later in the evening.”

They also met nine-year-old Freddie Munnelly from Castleknock in Dublin, who had a liver transplant in the UK.

Freddie gave the two leaders England and Irish scarves to wear at the match and predicted that the score would be a one all draw.

During the Farmleigh meeting, the two will discuss Northern Irish issues, as well as the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach also met representatives from employers’ group Ibec, as well as Irish business leaders from companies, including Accenture, Keelings and Primark.

Mr Starmer said said pressing international issues including Ukraine and the conflict in Middle East were on the agenda for the meeting.

He said: “In the face of Russian aggression, we have to stand together, to co-ordinate, stand with our allies and give Ukraine all the support that it needs for as long as it needs.

“In relation to the Middle East, we need a ceasefire so that the remaining hostages can come out, so that desperately-needed aid can get in to Gaza, and that we can step down the path towards a two-state settlement, which in my view is the only lasting settlement that will bring about lasting peace.”

Benn set to declare ‘new chapter’ in UK-Irish relations

Meanwhile Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has set out the UK government’s commitment to a “new chapter” in UK-Ireland relations during a keynote address at the annual British-Irish Association Conference in Oxfordshire.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly also attended the conference.

Mr Benn used his speech to underline his government’s commitment to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

He said that parties in Northern Ireland must realise further suspensions of the Stormont power-sharing institutions cannot be allowed to happen.

The Assembly and Executive returned in February after a two-year collapse caused by the DUP withdrawing from the power-sharing coalition in protest at post-Brexit trading arrangements.

Mr Benn acknowledged the “deep upset and anger” caused by the previous UK government’s controversial act to deal with the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Labour has pledged to repeal and replace the Legacy Act and Mr Benn has met with the families of Troubles victims on the issue.

He underlined his commitment to working with Mr Martin on repealing the Act.

Mr Benn said that there is more the government can do to strengthen the independence and powers of a new truth recovery body established by the Act, the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

During his address to the conference, Mr Martin said that “unilateral decisions” by the previous UK government “meant that working in real partnership on the issue of reconciliation was not a realistic possibility”.

“We have lived through a period which, more often than not, was characterised by uncertainty and mistrust and stasis,” he said.

However, the Tánaiste said: “I genuinely believe that we are in a different place now”.

Mr Martin welcomed Mr Benn’s commitment to repeal and replace the Legacy Act.

The Tánaiste said Mr Benn’s “sustained engagement on this issue has been very important and deeply appreciated”.

Mr Martin said the Northern Ireland Secretary’s initial actions to which he has committed, including the repeal of immunity provisions, and the reinstatement of the civil cases and inquests, are “a crucial first step”.

Additional reporting PA