Latest news with #Ireland-UK
Irish Independent
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Northern Ireland and UK spokesperson role for Sligo/Leitrim TD Frank Feighan
An Taoiseach said: 'Deputy Feighan takes on this role for Fine Gael in a challenging geopolitical environment. With regards to Northern Ireland, we make the greatest progress when our two Governments work together, particularly to support peace, prosperity and reconciliation on this island. 'At the recent Ireland-UK summit, we committed to work together on conflict prevention, peacebuilding, sustainable development and climate action. Deputy Feighan has demonstrated his experience in building and maintaining important and enduring relationships and I wish him success in his new role. Deputy Frank Feighan, a former Junior Minister, said: 'I'm delighted to have been asked to take on this responsibility by the Tánaiste. In working through the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and in developing relationships with my UK counterparts, I look forward to a particularly fruitful period of partnership and cooperation in the service of people across these islands.'
The Independent
26-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Irish deputy premier and Northern Ireland Secretary to meet in Dublin
Ireland's deputy premier Simon Harris is to meet Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in Dublin on Wednesday evening. The meeting, their first to be held in person, will feature discussions on political stability in Northern Ireland, the Omagh Inquiry and the UK Government's controversial Legacy Act. Mr Harris is understood to looking to find common ground on legacy issues, underpinned by the support of those most affected and in compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. They will also discuss the announcement that the two governments will appoint an independent expert to carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment. Their meeting comes in advance of the Ireland-UK summit in Liverpool next Thursday. Mr Harris spoke to Mr Benn by phone in January on his first full day as Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs. During that call he extended an invite to Mr Benn to Dublin and said he looked forward to hosting him in the Irish capital 'at the earliest opportunity'. Mr Benn last visited Dublin in early December when he met former tanaiste Micheal Martin at the British-Irish intergovernmental conference. Elsewhere on Wednesday, the Irish Justice Minister said he had 'concerns' about establishing a separate inquiry into the Omagh bombing in the Republic of Ireland. However, Jim O'Callaghan said the Irish Government would co-operate with the UK inquiry. 'What happened in Omagh was horrific,' he said. 'My department is co-operating with the Omagh Inquiry. We're finalising a memorandum of understanding in respect of ensuring that any relevant evidence that we have in the South is provided to the inquiry. 'I have concerns about establishing a separate inquiry down here. There's one inquiry which has been conducted at present, the Irish Government is going to co-operate with it, we are co-operating with it. I think that's where all our focus should be.'
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Irish deputy premier and Northern Ireland Secretary to meet in Dublin
Ireland's deputy premier Simon Harris is to meet Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn in Dublin on Wednesday evening. The meeting, their first to be held in person, will feature discussions on political stability in Northern Ireland, the Omagh Inquiry and the UK Government's controversial Legacy Act. Mr Harris is understood to looking to find common ground on legacy issues, underpinned by the support of those most affected and in compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. They will also discuss the announcement that the two governments will appoint an independent expert to carry out a short scoping and engagement exercise to assess whether there is merit in, and support for, a formal process of engagement to bring about paramilitary group transition to disbandment. Their meeting comes in advance of the Ireland-UK summit in Liverpool next Thursday. Mr Harris spoke to Mr Benn by phone in January on his first full day as Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs. During that call he extended an invite to Mr Benn to Dublin and said he looked forward to hosting him in the Irish capital 'at the earliest opportunity'. Mr Benn last visited Dublin in early December when he met former tanaiste Micheal Martin at the British-Irish intergovernmental conference.
The Independent
27-01-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Martin wants ‘defining year' for relations with UK after first call with Starmer
Irish premier Micheal Martin said he and Sir Keir Starmer wanted to make 2025 a 'defining year' for relations between their countries after their first call since he was elected Taoiseach. The two leaders discussed the ongoing recovery efforts from Storm Eowyn when they spoke on Monday morning. They also spoke about the series of Ireland-UK annual summits, with Britain due to host the first in March. 'We are both committed to making 2025 an important and defining year for Irish-British relations as we initiate a series of annual summits to drive a programme of strategic co-operation between our two countries,' Mr Martin said after the call. 'We spoke about Northern Ireland and our shared vision as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement to furthering prosperity and reconciliation to the benefit of all.' Mr Martin welcomed the assistance provided by UK crews in the efforts to tackle the storm's impact, and Sir Keir said the UK was standing by to offer further support as required. Downing Street said: 'The leaders agreed that the UK–Ireland relationship was going from strength to strength, and it was vital to continue that in such a volatile geopolitical context. 'Discussing devastating Storm Eowyn at the weekend, the leaders paid tribute to the work of first responders and engineers to restore electricity to thousands of homes. 'The Prime Minister said that he had also spoken to the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and that the UK stood by to offer further support, as required. 'The Prime Minister also updated on his EU reset, and the leaders underscored the importance of a close and constructive relationship with the EU to boost prosperity and security.' They also discussed Ukraine and the Middle East, and Mr Martin called for a 'surge' in humanitarian aid to Gaza. We discussed the importance of remaining committed today to combating antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, intolerance and racism Taoiseach Micheal Martin Both leaders are due to attend Holocaust Memorial Day events to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. 'We discussed the importance of remaining committed today to combating antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, intolerance and racism,' Mr Martin said. Irish deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris also spoke to Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Monday. Mr Harris said he welcomed the 'renewed warmth' in the relationship with the UK and that the call was an opportunity to welcome 'renewed positive engagement' from the UK on relations with the EU.
