Taoiseach Micheál Martin met with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Manchester today where the pair discussed ties between the UK and the European Union.
Mr Burnham said the relationship with Ireland "matters so much on every single level" as the Taoiseach became the first international leader to visit No 10 North in Manchester - the new North of England outpost of Downing Street.
The Prime Minister said it was "very fitting" for Mr Martin to be the first head of government to visit the Manchester site because of the close ties between the north west of England and Ireland.
Mr Martin said he looked forward to the UK having a "stronger and closer" relationship with the EU.
Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Mr Burnham said: "The relationship between the UK and Ireland matters so much on every single level.
"Close to home, as co-custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, we are working together to uphold its principles as we approach the 30th anniversary next year.
"In Europe, we are looking forward to a UK-EU summit later this year and, with Ireland in the presidency, wanting to take further steps to deepen the relationship with Europe."
So many people have Irish connections and they will be so pleased to see you with us today
A Downing Street spokesperson added that the two leaders looked ahead to the UK's hosting of the next UK-Ireland Summit in the first half of 2027 and "agreed its importance in working together across priorities including security and trade".
As well as the visit to No 10 North, Mr Martin was joining the Prime Minister at an Irish club in his Makerfield constituency.
Mr Burnham said: "Here in the north west, but across the UK, so many people have Irish connections and they will be so pleased to see you with us today."
Taoiseach and Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Brian Boru Irish Club, Ashton in Makerfield pic.twitter.com/aRGo9VOZdT
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Mr Martin said that "in a global world marked by a lot of uncertainty" it was important for the two close neighbours to have "very strong engagement".
The Taoiseach said: "We look forward to discussing with you even stronger and closer relationships between the European Union and the United Kingdom, which will be of benefit to the European Union and indeed to Ireland, quite frankly."
Mr Martin thanked Mr Burnham for his stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict after Mr Burnham reset the UK government’s approach to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and stiffened sanctions over West Bank settlements.
The Taoiseach said: "I think for the United Kingdom under your leadership to take the stance that its taken, I think, is important for… standing up for humanitarian values and justice and fulfilling the rights of all in the Middle East to security, to peace and to some decent future for their children and generations to come."
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Fast-moving international diplomacy
The meeting in No 10 North comes at a time of fast moving international diplomacy.
On Wednesday, Mr Burnham met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Oxford. Later that same day, he met Canadian Prime Minster Mark Carney in Liverpool.
That was in between European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen offering Canada "associate membership" of the EU, and Mr Carney’s own speech to the European Parliament yesterday, setting out his ideas for a closer relationship.
The evolving Canada-EU relationship may contain ideas for future EU-UK relations. The Labour party government in the UK has been seeking a "reset" in relations with the EU since coming to power two years ago.
On Monday, the leaders of Plaid Cymru, the Scottish National Party and Sinn Féin met in Cardiff, pledging to work together to get referendums on Irish unity, Scottish Independence and more power for Wales.
Since May, nationalist parties have held the First Minister position in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff - the first time this has happened.
UK separation referendums 'off the table'
Mr Burnham’s own commitment to moving political power outside of Westminster - of which No 10 North is a concrete expression - is a sign that constitutional change of some sort is under way in the UK but referendums on separation are currently "off the table".
He clarified his remarks on a Northern Ireland unification poll in the House of Commons last week, restating the Good Friday Agreement formula - that the timing of a referendum is up to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, based on them forming the view that a majority exists for unification.
But in the same answer, he added that he expected the same would apply to Scotland.
That was seized on by Scottish First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney, who said Mr Burnham had recognised the right of the Scottish people to decide their own future.
He said the logic of Mr Burnham's argument means "he will be the last prime minster of the United Kingdom, because the people of Scotland, if given the choice of Independence in a referendum, will take that choice".
Reacting to the meeting, Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was "extraordinary" that neither government gave any indication preparations for Irish unity featured in the discussions.
"The reality is that the world is talking about Irish unity," said Ms McDonald.
"Only weeks ago Andy Burnham declared that a referendum on Irish unity was 'off the table'. The British government was subsequently forced to reaffirm its commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and its provisions on constitutional change.
"Mícheál Martin himself said only last week that the criteria governing when a unity referendum should be called need to be discussed and described the current arrangements as unsatisfactory.
"He then had the British Prime Minister sitting across the table from him today but the issue was apparently not addressed," said Ms McDonald.
The meeting between the Taoiseach and Mr Burnham comes days before the UN General Assembly in New York, where Mr Burnham may meet US President Donald Trump.
During a visit to Ireland at the weekend, Mr Trump made headlines by saying he would "love to see" a united Ireland while at a meeting with the Taoiseach.
Mr Trump said a united Ireland would "happen eventually" and that the Taoiseach was "the right man over here to get it moving".
Additional reporting by Press Association
