Micheál Martin on Keir Starmer, Cork Summit and UK-Ireland 2030
Micheál Martin pays tribute to the outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and summarises outcomes from the United Kingdom-Ireland Summit in Cork on 12-13 March. He underlines the progress of the United Kingdom-Ireland 2030 programme and the need to deepen cooperation on energy, security and youth engagement.
Micheál Martin acknowledges Keir Starmer's role in resetting relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom and in improving UK-EU ties during his two years as Prime Minister. He thanks Starmer for working with Ireland on a fresh direction in bilateral cooperation and wishes him and his family well as he steps down.
Martin highlights a joint framework published by both governments to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He presents this as an important step forward in dealing with the past and in building mutual trust across the islands.
The leader reviews the Cork summit (12-13 March), the second in the series begun in Liverpool, and outlines the progress under United Kingdom-Ireland 2030. He notes meetings with business representatives, visits to Tyndall National Institute, a civic reception in Cork City Hall, and the launch of the Ireland-United Kingdom Youth Forum established in January 2026.
Martin sets out the programme's shared ambitions through to 2030: energy security and clean energy transition, protection of subsea infrastructure, cyber security, cultural exchange and competitiveness. He also notes that discussions covered wider international issues including the Middle East, the Gulf region and Ukraine.
Micheál Martin expresses confidence that the successor to Keir Starmer will want to continue deepening UK-Ireland relations and commits to working with United Kingdom counterparts to carry forward the ambitions of United Kingdom-Ireland 2030.
Tribute to Keir Starmer
Micheál Martin acknowledges Keir Starmer's role in resetting relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom and in improving UK-EU ties during his two years as Prime Minister. He thanks Starmer for working with Ireland on a fresh direction in bilateral cooperation and wishes him and his family well as he steps down.
Legacy and reconciliation
Martin highlights a joint framework published by both governments to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He presents this as an important step forward in dealing with the past and in building mutual trust across the islands.
Cork Summit and United Kingdom-Ireland 2030
The leader reviews the Cork summit (12-13 March), the second in the series begun in Liverpool, and outlines the progress under United Kingdom-Ireland 2030. He notes meetings with business representatives, visits to Tyndall National Institute, a civic reception in Cork City Hall, and the launch of the Ireland-United Kingdom Youth Forum established in January 2026.
Strategic priorities and international context
Martin sets out the programme's shared ambitions through to 2030: energy security and clean energy transition, protection of subsea infrastructure, cyber security, cultural exchange and competitiveness. He also notes that discussions covered wider international issues including the Middle East, the Gulf region and Ukraine.
Looking ahead
Micheál Martin expresses confidence that the successor to Keir Starmer will want to continue deepening UK-Ireland relations and commits to working with United Kingdom counterparts to carry forward the ambitions of United Kingdom-Ireland 2030.
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Transcript
I want to note the announcement of the resignation of the United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier this week and to acknowledge the very significant role he has played in resetting the Irish-British relationship as well as relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union during his time as Prime Minister. Since Prime Minister Starmer took office two years ago, he has worked with us to set a new direction and depth in the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom, for the benefit of all our citizens north, south and east-west. Our two governments also took an important step forward in dealing with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland publishing a joint framework on addressing the legacy of the Troubles. As I said this week, Keir is a person of great ability, decency and honour and I want to wish him, his wife Victoria and their family the very best in their next chapter in their lives. I have no doubt that his successor as Prime Minister will wish to continue to deepen and strengthen the relationship between the United Kingdom and Ireland and we will continue to work in forderance of that objective. I hosted the United Kingdom-Ireland Summit in Cork on the 12th and 13th of March and this was the second summit in a series initiated in Liverpool last year at which Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I agreed a new comprehensive programme of strategic cooperation United Kingdom-Ireland 2030. This year's summit was an opportunity to review progress on United Kingdom-Ireland 2030 and to identify further areas for cooperation and work to be taken forward across government in collaboration with United Kingdom counterparts. The summit in Cork had an extensive programme over two days reflecting the significant nature of this bilateral relationship. The opening engagement was a roundtable event attended by businesses and business representative groups to explore issues related to trade and investment and what Ireland and the United Kingdom can do together to further our already substantial economic relationship. The Prime Minister and I also had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Ireland-United Kingdom Youth Forum established in January 2026 in fulfilment of a commitment made at last year's summit. The aim of the forum is to ensure that a new generation is involved in strengthening of relations across these islands. The summit programme also included a civic and cultural reception in Cork City Hall and a research and innovation-focused visit to the Tyndall National Institute. Prime Minister Starmer and I also met over dinner on the 12th of March. The summit plenary held in Fota House saw a wide-ranging discussion on achievements to date on the United Kingdom-Ireland 2030 and on shared ambitions to see cooperation deepen and deliver to 2030 across a range of areas including energy security and the transition to clean energy, protection of subsea infrastructure, cyber security, cultural exchange and competitiveness. We also discussed wider international issues including the Middle East, the Gulf region and Ukraine.