It is a great pleasure to be back here at the BIA, and to have the opportunity to reflect upon the UK-Ireland relationship with all of you, and thank you, Dominic and Francesca, for the invitation and for all that you do to nurture this really important institution.

It has certainly been an eventful 12 months since last we met.

Continuing war in Ukraine. The unfolding disaster in Gaza. The climate continues to warm. A new partnership between the UK and the EU. And a new President of the United States of America.

But one thing that hasn’t changed has been the growing warmth of the relationship between our two countries.

Simon, I want to say how grateful I am for the friendship and enthusiasm with which you - and the whole Irish Government - have embraced not only the reset in the relati

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