Britishirish relations ‘a lot better’

THE relationship between Britain and Ireland is “a lot better” today than it was a year ago, according to Irish premier Simon Harris.

The Fine Gael leader has also vowed to work with the governments across the UK to “realise the full potential” of all communities.

Mr Harris made the comments as he addressed the Britishirish Parliamentary Assembly (Bipa) at Druids Glen Hotel in Newtown Mount Kennedy, Co Wicklow. It was the first time he has spoken as Taoiseach at a meeting of Irish and UK parliamentarians.

Praising the political leaders in Northern Ireland, Mr Harris said: “I think British-irish relationships are a lot better now than they were even a year ago, thanks to the Windsor Framework.

“There is now an opportunity to say ‘What’s next? What more can we do together?’ And I look forward to exploring that because both the First Minister (Michelle O’neill) and the Deputy First Minister (Emma Little-pengelly) were very clear that they are determined to work together on shared objectives in a practical and pragmatic way and to work with the Government of Ireland in the same spirit.”

Mr Harris, 37, reminded the audience that he was not old enough to vote in the Good Friday Agreement.

He said: “We need to really consider this. There’s a whole generation of people who are yearning to be involved in a conversation about the future, in a conversation about how we work together, in a conversation that is not meant to be divisive and not meant to be argumentative, but in a conversation about what are the practical areas in which we can work together and how do we get to know each other better.”