Ireland remains “ready to support” the UK in developing closer ties with the EU under Andy Burnham’s premiership, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said.
Ireland’s deputy premier said the relationship between Ireland and its closest neighbour was “probably the best place it’s been in since Brexit, if not even better”.
First phone call between Taoiseach and Prime Minister
On Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin had his first phone call with Mr Burnham, where they discussed legacy issues and Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Ireland’s presidency of the EU and EU-UK relations.
Speaking to reporters outside Leinster House, Mr Martin said the pair had had a “very warm conversation” in their first engagement.
“We discussed a wide range of issues, we look forward to an early meeting, and we discussed the relationships we’ve got in Ireland, particularly in terms of the annual summits that we now hold that we continue, and also focusing on issues like energy,” he said.
He added: “In terms of Northern Ireland’s legacy, we did discuss that. I think it’s a historic opportunity to get the Legacy done, and I made those points to Andy.
“And also then the broader international situation and the European Union, United Kingdom relationship in particular, which I think is important for Europe, is important for the United Kingdom and Ireland.”
Harris welcomes continuation of reset in relations
Mr Harris said Mr Burnham “knows Ireland well, and Ireland knows him well”.
“He is an experienced politician who made a point when he was mayor, along with the mayor of Liverpool, of visiting here and really building and strengthening links, both with national government and with local government, so I wish Andy Burnham well,” he said.
“I certainly hope and expect that we will see a continuation of the major reset that took place in UK-Ireland relations.
“When Prime Minister Starmer came to office, I spoke to him on his first day in office as Taoiseach, we had a conversation about immediately resetting, and we worked really hard to do that.”
He welcomed Mr Martin’s call with Mr Burnham that took place on Tuesday, and said there were “important issues that we’ve got to work really closely on together”.
“A closer relationship for the UK with the EU is in the UK’s interest, in my humble opinion, it’s in the EU’s interest and it’s in Ireland’s interest,” he said.
“We remain ready to support there. The very good work that’s been done on Legacy is important too. I know Minister McEntee is working on that, so there’s a lot of good work under way.”
He added: “A lot of good work has been done to get the relationship to probably the best place it’s been in since Brexit, if not even better than before that, and we’ve just got to keep that momentum going as we head towards the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in the not-too-distant future.”
