Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take questions Nos. 13 to 19, inclusive, together.

I attended the 38th British-Irish Council summit, hosted by the Government of Jersey on 15 and 16 June. The theme of the summit was Building for the Future: Green and Affordable. I detailed the Government’s work to promote sustainable and affordable housing under Housing For All, including in relation to skills, affordability, and vacancy. More broadly, I updated the council on my recent EU and international engagements, including the European Political Community summit. We discussed developments in Northern Ireland, and in particular the events North and South to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Along with others around the table I regretted the absence of representatives from the Northern Ireland Executive and hoped for an early restoration of the Executive and Assembly in Northern Ireland.

While in Jersey, I met with Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove. We discussed a range of issues including housing and the cost of living, the situation in Northern Ireland, as well as the ongoing bilateral relationship. I also had the opportunity to have my first engagement with the new leader of the Scottish Government, First Minister, Humza Yousaf. We discussed the Ireland-Scotland Joint Bilateral Review 2021-2025, which provides an important framework for deepening links between our two countries, our ongoing engagement, our shared learning in a range of sectors, and our economic links.

I also met with the Welsh First Minister, the Right Honourable Mark Drakeford. We discussed our strong bilateral relationship and the positive progress made to date through the Shared Statement and Joint Action Plan 2021-2025, which sets out the ambition and plans for the Ireland-Wales relationship in years ahead. The Irish Government will host the next meeting of the British-Irish Council in Dublin in November.

I met with Prime Minister Sunak in Hillsborough Castle on 19 April where we discussed developments in Northern Ireland and the British-Irish relationship, as well as broader domestic and global challenges. We have spoken since in the margins of the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik in May and at the European Political Community summit in Moldova on 31 May and 1 June. Our shared priority is the return of functioning institutions that provide services that the people of Northern Ireland need and deserve. In our engagements I have emphasised the value of the two Governments working together in the period ahead in support of the Agreement and its institutions. We have also discussed the scope for further strengthening the bilateral British-Irish relationship.

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