IRIA News

4 minute read

In a significant diplomatic effort to heal ties strained by years of Brexit-related friction, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris in Dublin on September 9, 2024.

The visit marks the first official trip to Ireland by a British prime minister in five years and is part of Starmer’s broader strategy to strengthen relations with both the Republic of Ireland and the European Union (EU).

“It is the moment for reset. It’s when we put meaning behind those words,” Starmer remarked during the meeting held at the Farmleigh Estate, a historic property on the outskirts of Dublin that once belonged to the Guinness family.

Starmer’s visit is symbolic of a new chapter in the bilateral relationship between the two neighboring nations, with a renewed emphasis on cooperation, trade, and friendship. The visit, coming less than two months after Harris’ trip to Starmer’s Chequers country residence following Labour’s decisive victory in the UK general election, underscores the importance of improving Anglo-Irish relations in the post-Brexit era.

The United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union in 2016 had wide-reaching consequences, not least for its relationship with Ireland. With Northern Ireland being part of the UK and sharing a land border with EU-member Ireland, the post-Brexit trade rules governing that border became a contentious issue.

Northern Ireland Protocol

The Northern Ireland Protocol was a key part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement designed to prevent the re-establishment of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. However, it created a de facto customs border in the Irish Sea, raising concerns about the economic and political future of Northern Ireland.

This arrangement led to considerable tension between Britain, Ireland, and the broader EU, with trade complications and political uncertainties impacting cross-border businesses and citizens alike.

For both sides, Brexit represented a rupture in what had been close and cooperative relations, particularly during the peace-building process that followed the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The Agreement, which ended three decades of sectarian violence known as “The Troubles,” was predicated in part on seamless borders and cooperation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The complexities introduced by Brexit inevitably threatened that balance.

We are more than neighbours, we are more than trading partners; we are friends, we are family and together we can chart a new path, a moment of reset, peace, prosperity and mutual respect. A very productive day.
Thank you @Keir_Starmer for your friendship and shared commitment. pic.twitter.com/1Hvm32Pyq6

— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) September 7, 2024

“This moment represents a fundamental shift in our bilateral relationship. With the Brexit debates behind us, we’re moving from friction back to friendship,” the two leaders declared.

The statement is a clear indication that both countries are committed to resetting relations, focusing on fostering a renewed sense of cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres. Harris himself emphasized the need to “flesh out what a reset looks like, what it looks like in a practical sense.”

Though Starmer has made it clear that he has no intention of revisiting the fundamentals of Britain’s departure from the EU, his government has expressed a strong desire to improve diplomatic and trade relations with EU states, including Ireland. The goal, according to Starmer, is to move forward constructively without reopening divisive Brexit debates.

Economic ties

A key part of the visit involved a meeting with business leaders from major Irish firms such as Primark, Dawn Meats, and dairy company Ornua, reflecting a shared commitment to enhancing economic ties. Trade between Ireland and the UK has long been a significant factor in both countries’ economies, and the effects of Brexit have had notable impacts on both sides.

For many businesses, particularly in sectors like agriculture and retail, new border controls and trade restrictions introduced by Brexit created hurdles that strained their operations. Both leaders are keen to find ways to streamline this process and ease some of the disruptions that have taken place in recent years.

For Ireland, strengthening ties with Britain is not just a matter of economic necessity but also of preserving the peace and stability that have been painstakingly built over the past two decades. As both nations continue to chart their course in a post-Brexit world, the emphasis on friendship over friction may prove vital in shaping their future relationship.

As the two countries work to resolve ongoing tensions and lay the groundwork for future collaboration, the international community will be watching closely. The hope is that the reset that both leaders have called for will pave the way for more constructive engagement in the years to come.