Good Friday Agreement: UK and Irish PMs reaffirm commitment

The Irish Prime Minister or Taoiseach has reportedly told the UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham that there is a responsibility to maintain progress on the Good Friday Agreement. The remarks came as Burnham said the relationship between the UK and Ireland matters fundamentally as they two leaders met at Number 10 North for key talks on Friday.

The pair further expected a deepening of bilateral relations including boosting trade, security and working with the European Union. The primary motive behind working together is to adhere to the core principles of the peace agreement for Northern Ireland.

Burnham said it felt perfectly natural to welcome Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin as the first international visitor to Number 10 North in Manchester. He added that as co-custodians of the Good Friday Agreement, they are collaborating to adhere to principles as they approach its 30th anniversary.

The Good Friday Agreement is primarily known as the Belfast Agreement-a deal designed to bring an end to thirty years of armed conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles.

The Taoiseach asserted that in an increasingly unpredictable market, it was significant for the two neighboring states to preserve long-standing cooperation.

Martin is looking forward to discussing stronger relationships between the European Union and the United Kingdom which would benefit both the European Union and Ireland.