Irish premier Micheal Martin has told Sir Keir Starmer that the case for forging a close partnership between Ireland and the UK “has never been greater”. The two leaders undertook a number of engagements in Cork on the first evening of the UK-Ireland summit, following an inaugural gathering in Liverpool last year.
Delivering an address at a cultural event, the Taoiseach said there was a “renewed spirit of co-operation” between the two countries. He outlined areas for deeper collaboration, including infrastructure, clean energy, climate action, research, and the cost of living, emphasising shared values in international cooperation and Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister told the event that the world is in an age of “dramatic uncertainty”, adding that cooperation is more important than ever to deliver security and growth, and to tackle the cost of living. During a meeting with energy and infrastructure representatives, chants from a few dozen protesters holding Iranian, Palestinian, or Irish flags could be heard outside.
Earlier, Sir Keir met Stormont’s political leaders in Belfast before travelling to Cork. He said he had tried to “reset” relations between Britain and Ireland since becoming Prime Minister, noting that while disagreements remain, positive engagement is key. He added that the relationship is “in a better place” and that the job is to manage issues rather than escalate them.
Five million euros worth of cultural collaborations for 12 projects, including a play starring Paul Mescal, were announced to coincide with the summit. The UK-Ireland Summit was established to maintain and develop relations post-Brexit, with a cooperation programme called UK-Ireland 2030 launched at last year’s inaugural event.
