Taoiseach Simon Harris described as a “reset in British-Irish relations” the visit of the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Dublin on Saturday.
The two leaders will meet first in Farmleigh House, the official state guest home, before meeting with business representatives and then attending the Ireland against England Nations League game at the Aviva Stadium.
“This is an important moment of reset in British-Irish relations. I look forward to discussing with Prime Minister Starmer how to ensure that we seize this opportunity to put relations on a better and stronger footing,” the taoiseach said.
The meeting follows a July 17 Chequers one-to-one and will “mark the formal launch by the two leaders of a programme of strategic engagement between Ireland and the UK to underpin the resetting of relations”, the Dublin government said.
Sir Keir, whose visit to Ireland will be the first by a UK prime minister in five years, said: “The UK and Ireland share the strongest of ties – through our close geography, shared culture and the friendships of our people.
“Our relationship has never reached its full potential, but I want to change that.”
The pair will also discuss, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, how to ensure that this moment of reset benefits the totality of relations across these islands, the Irish government said.
They will also discuss international issues, including the situations in Ukraine and in Gaza.
Following their one-to-one meeting, the pair will co-host a roundtable discussion with business representatives “to hear their assessment of trends and opportunities in the Ireland-UK trade and investment environment”.
They will then travel to the Aviva for the game between Ireland and England, which kicks off at 5pm.
On what the Irish government is describing as a reset in relations, Mr Harris said: “This will mean working on a joint plan to bring about a step-change in ambition and engagement between our two governments over the coming period.
“We will also discuss, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, how to ensure that this moment of reset benefits the totality of relations across these islands today and into the future.”
Commerce across the Irish Sea, a trade relationship worth €100 billion a year and which supports thousands of jobs, will be top of the agenda, the Press Association is reporting from London.
“We have a clear opportunity to go further and faster to make sure our partnership is fully delivering on behalf of the British and Irish people – driving growth and prosperity in both our countries,” Sir Keir said.
“The taoiseach and I are in lockstep about our future, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration further.”
Mr Harris was the first international leader hosted by Sir Keir in the UK following the July election win. It will be the first visit of a UK Prime Minister to Dublin since Boris Johnson in 2019.
Irish News columnist and Slugger O’Toole deputy editor David McCann said the prime minister’s visit represents a “notable step forward in the thawing of relations between London and Dublin”.
“Obviously things were very strained in the years following the UK’s 2016 EU referendum, with the Irish government very much fighting Brussels’ corner,” he said.
“The Starmer administration is keen to reset the relationship with the EU and Ireland, and this is all part of that steady process.”
