Ireland’s relationship with the UK under Andy Burnham’s premiership has “got off to a very good start”, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said after the Irish leader’s first official meeting with the British prime minister in Manchester.

Martin, speaking after the meeting at Number 10 North on Friday, said he did not provide details on whether Irish unity featured prominently in the talks. The comments came amid attention on wider constitutional questions following remarks by US President Donald Trump that he supported a “unified Ireland”.

First Meeting At Number 10 North

Martin said the discussions were wide-ranging, adding that the two men held a “broad discussion” on the need to uphold the Good Friday Agreement. He said they did not go into specifics on Irish unity.

“It was the first meeting, it went well... I think we have the capacity to make a lot of progress on a lot of issues in the time ahead,” Martin said.

The taoiseach was the first international leader to visit the government’s new headquarters in Manchester. He also visited the Brian Boru Irish Club in Burnham’s constituency in Ashton-in-Makerfield.

During a visit to Northern Ireland last month, Burnham said a border poll was “off the table”, before later saying he stood by the Good Friday Agreement.

Martin said he and Burnham discussed the UK’s Troubles legacy legislation in depth, and that he had “stressed the importance” of passing the bill through Parliament. He said both London and Dublin were working closely on the expected next steps.

The UK government is expected to publish details of changes in the middle of next month, according to Martin.

Good Friday Agreement And Shared Responsibilities

Burnham said the relationship between the UK and Ireland matters “on every single level” as he greeted the taoiseach. He said the two countries were “working together” to uphold the principles of the peace deal for Northern Ireland.

Burnham added that, as “co-custodians of the Good Friday Agreement”, they were working together to uphold its principles as the process approaches the 30th anniversary.

The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, is a political deal aimed at ending 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles.

Martin also said he and Burnham discussed the importance of the Stormont institutions functioning more effectively. He said the Irish government believes there needs to be reform.

Burnham, he added, understood the issue and was focusing on efforts to resolve negotiations with the Stormont executive on agreeing a budget for this year.

Sympathy And Wider Engagement

Martin expressed his sympathies to Burnham after the prime minister’s father died recently. He also told Burnham: “I think your sense of duty shines through.”

In remarks about international relations, Martin said it was “important that two close neighbours continue the very strong engagement” in a “global world marked by uncertainty”. He described Ireland and the UK as “co-guarantors” of the Good Friday Agreement and said both have “very significant obligations” to protect and progress it.

He said he was also looking forward to discussing “even stronger and closer relationships between the European Union and the United Kingdom”, adding that such cooperation would benefit both the European Union and Ireland.

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19 September 2026

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Ireland doesnt say that the lib globalist taoiseach clown says that.

Soon to be removed.