Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Dowd for his kind words and good wishes in terms of my engagement with the British Prime Minister next week. I see this as a moment of reset for Anglo-Irish relations and I take my responsibility as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement on behalf of the Irish Government very seriously, as I know Prime Minister Starmer takes his responsibility as co-guarantor of that agreement for his Government. I too welcome the appointment of Hilary Benn, a politician who is serious and of substance and knows Ireland, the island of Ireland and the importance of the relationship between our two islands. I thank the Deputy for all his work as Chair of the Good Friday Agreement committee. I think we are seeing in his constituency - I was in Omeath recently with him - the benefit we can have when we work together on issues that make sense, such as the new Narrow Water Bridge. This is a major moment of reset. I have said it before and I mean it: the next generation will not forgive us if we do not seize this opportunity to reset relations.

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