Irish-British relations have never been “stronger, or more settled” and economic prosperity can follow in the wake of deeper ties, the Taoiseach and British prime minister declared in London today.
Enda Kenny and David Cameron, following a meeting in 10 Downing Street, signed a declaration pledging to deepen ties over the next decades, saying that the two countries are connected “as never before” through business, politics, culture and sport.
"Think of previous occasions with prime ministers and taoisigh would have stood in this room or in Dublin, we would have been talking about political processes, parades, policing," Mr Cameron told The Irish Times during a joint press conference.
“Instead of that, there is another ‘p’ which is an entirely positive agenda between Ireland. It is about two countries which are friends and neighbours,” he said.
Mr Kenny said relations were at “an unprecedented high level”.
Both leaders insisted that Ireland and the UK will have a common approach on many future European Union issues, most particularly the need to drive through reforms of the single market to open up all internal EU trade.
“We share a desire to reduce the burden of regulation, particularly on small and medium enterprises, and believe that the single market should in particular take advantage of digital opportunities, reflecting the growing importance of online commerce and trade, opening up services markets and establishing a genuine, efficient and effective internal market in energy,” they said.
Questioned about the European Commission’s proposals for a financial transaction tax, which is deeply opposed by the UK, Mr Kenny said Ireland’s opposition to the idea has been made known often on the subject.
Later, the Taoiseach spoke at the launch in London of the British-Irish Chambers of Commerce, which so far has attracted 150 companies as members who are part of the €1 billion-a-week trade between the two countries.
The economic ties point to “a future of shared prosperity”, Mr Kenny told a reception at the Irish Embassy, which included senior business figures, such as Martin Naughton of Glen Dimplex and others. Government officials and State agencies, he said, will offer every possible co-operation to Irish companies wanting to export to Britain.
Chamber chief executive Steve Aiken said dozens of Irish companies are now operating in Britain as their first export market.
