TAOISEACH Micheál Martin is in Britain today for a high-level meeting with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The wide-ranging agenda includes legacy issues in Northern Ireland, EU-UK relations and international concerns over Gaza and Ukraine.
The meeting, at the prime minister’s country residence of Chequers, marks the second formal engagement between the two leaders since they launched the UK-Ireland 2030 Cooperation Programme during a summit in Liverpool earlier this year.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Martin highlighted the progress made since the March summit.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with Prime Minister Starmer today and to discussing a range of matters, including the progress to date on the delivery of the UK-Ireland 2030 cooperation programme,” he said.
One of the central topics for discussion is the ongoing legacy of the Northern Ireland conflict.
Both leaders have signalled their intent to address these issues with sensitivity, acknowledging their continued impact on communities across the island.
“We will also discuss legacy issues, recognising their importance to people in Northern Ireland and to broader British-Irish relations,” Martin added.
This builds on a “constructive discussion” the two leaders had by phone in July, where they explored approaches to addressing the political and social ramifications of the decades-long conflict.
The state of EU-UK relations remains a key concern for both Dublin and London, particularly post-Brexit.
Today’s meeting is expected to assess recent developments and chart a path forward for stronger economic and diplomatic ties.
“Our discussions will cover the welcome progress in strengthening EU-UK relations,” said the Taoiseach, whose government views smoother cooperation as vital to Ireland’s trade and regional stability.
Both governments have voiced strong condemnation of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank and are expected to discuss diplomatic and aid responses.
Martin also emphasised continued Irish and British support for Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression.
“We will reaffirm our shared support for Ukraine in its defence against ongoing Russian aggression,” he said.
The bilateral meeting comes at a challenging time for Prime Minister Starmer, who is navigating political turbulence following the resignation of his deputy, Angela Rayner, and the dismissal of former Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mandelson from his diplomatic post in Washington.
Despite these internal challenges, Starmer has remained committed to resetting UK-Ireland relations, an effort that has been widely welcomed by Irish officials.
Today’s meeting is part of a broader series of annual summits aimed at reshaping the UK-Ireland partnership in a post-Brexit world.
With the 2030 roadmap as a foundation, both governments are expected to continue expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, security, legacy reconciliation and climate policy.
