Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report his attendance at the UK-Ireland Summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15457/25]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his Department’s engagements with the British government on trade, migration legacy and other relevant issues of shared interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15547/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 162 together.

There has been positive and substantive engagement with the British government in recent months, in particular in the context of the first UK-Ireland Summit in Liverpool on 6 March. I was pleased to attend the Summit alongside the Taoiseach, with Ministers McEntee, O’Brien and O’Callaghan.

The Summit was the realisation of an ambition that I, as the then Taoiseach, set in train with Prime Minister Keir Starmer last year, to renew and rebuild the Irish British relationship. We were clear then on the importance of realising the full potential of our relationship, and maximising opportunities for people right across these islands.

At the Summit, we had positive and constructive discussions on a range of issues of mutual common concern - supporting sustainable growth; addressing shared foreign and security policy issues, and supporting our climate related ambitions. I am pleased that we also agreed at the Summit on an ambitious programme of practical cooperation out to 2030, reflected in our UK-Ireland Joint Statement.

Our programme of co-operation recognises the unique and deeply consequential nature of the British-Irish relationship. In a challenging global environment, the benefits and significance of a stronger and more settled relationship between our two countries have never been greater.

Amongst other areas, we committed to cooperation to support infrastructure delivery; measures to support the vitally important trade and investment links between us - worth over €100 billion annually - and cooperation to realise our clean energy ambitions.

Given the challenging global geo-political and security environment, we also agreed to deepen cooperation on foreign and security policy matters. This is rooted in our commitment to the global multilateral system and international law. We are clear that the continued safety and security of our people is a priority for us both. Our ongoing and continued cooperation to protect the integrity of the Common Travel Area is central to this.

Importantly, our roles and responsibilities as co-guarantors of peace in Northern Ireland remain the bedrock of our relationship. I was pleased therefore that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hillary Benn, joined the Summit. Amongst other areas, we reflected on the work ongoing, at both official and political level, between our two governments to determine if we can find adequate common ground to move forward together on issues relating to legacy. As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, we are clear on the importance of a more reconciled, peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland. Our work on addressing the legacy of the past is vital to that.

In summary, the UK-Ireland Summit and our associated cooperation statement, mark the most ambitious and extensive engagement between the Irish and UK Governments in a generation. It was agreed to establish a UK-Ireland 2030 Steering Group led by the UK Cabinet Office and Department of the Taoiseach in order to take forward the range of commitments agreed upon. Through our new annual Summits, and in working through the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, I look forward to a particularly fruitful period of partnership and cooperation in the service of people across these islands.