Keir Starmer has agreed to visit Ireland on 7th September.
Yesterday, the Taoiseach met the new British Prime Minister at Chequers, his country retreat in Buckinghamshire near London.
The pair spoke about how the relationship between Britain and Ireland needs ‘resetting’ and an annual summit between the two Governments has been agreed.
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“The relationship between a Taoiseach and a British Prime Minister is pretty unique and pretty important,” Mr Harris said.
“We’ve seen when it works well, how good that can be. I think of the Bertie-Blair relationship.
“I think even more recently how Enda Kenny and David Cameron worked together.
“We need to get back into that position and I’m in no doubt that Keir and myself are absolutely up for that.”
The Taoiseach also said annual summits are normal between neighbouring countries and would help Dublin and London co-operate on issues of mutual concern.
“What I’m talking about here is an initiative led by the British Prime Minister and the Irish Taoiseach of the day,” he said.
“That brings together respective members of our Government in key areas, that agrees a work programme, that then colleagues and counterparts go off and work in those areas as well.
“This, to be honest, is normal practice in other neighbouring countries; one that I often think about is Germany and France.”
Thank you to Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer for hosting me as his first guest in Chequers. pic.twitter.com/oQ8BmKzCod
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 17, 2024
Following their meeting, Mr Starmer posted a picture of the pair drinking Guinness - which he captioned, ‘Cheers/sláinte - to friendship’.
Both Heads of Government will today attend a meeting of the European Political Community at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.
Main image: Simon Harris and Keir Starmer. Picture by: Simon Harris
