Ireland's Relationship with UK under Burnham Off to 'Very Good Start' - BBC News
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Ireland's relationship with the UK under Andy Burnham's premiership has got off to a "very good start", Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin has said.
But he refused to be drawn on how much the issue of Irish unity had featured during their first official meeting at Number 10 North on Friday.
The visit came days after US President Donald Trump made comments about supporting a "unified Ireland".
Martin said the men had a "broad discussion" about upholding the Good Friday Agreement and that they did not get into specifics.
"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," he said.*
Martin was the first international leader to visit the government's new headquarters in Manchester, and also visited the Brian Boru Irish Club in Burnham's constituency in Ashton-in-Makerfield.
On his visit to Northern Ireland last month, Burnham said a border poll was "off the table", but later said he stood by the Good Friday Agreement.
Martin said he had "confidence" in his own approach to Northern Ireland and did not believe in promoting "rhetoric" around Irish unity.
"I understand people want to appeal to their electoral bases in Northern Ireland sometimes, but that cuts nothing in my view," he said.*
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The taoiseach also discussed the UK's Troubles legacy legislation in depth, emphasizing the importance of passing the bill through Parliament. He noted both London and Dublin had been working closely on it, with details expected to be published mid-next month.
He expressed his sympathies with Burnham following the recent death of his father.
Martin concluded by highlighting the significance of the relationship between the UK and Ireland:
"In a global world marked by uncertainty" it is "important that two close neighbours continue the very strong engagement."*