The British Indian Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and his Irish counterpart, Leo Varadkar, met in Belfast on Monday to oversee a historic power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland, where a devolved government has taken charge after a two-year hiatus.
The leaders convened at Parliament Buildings, Stormont Castle, and commended efforts to reinstate devolution in Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Sunak, who hails from Southampton with roots in Punjab, and Taoiseach Varadkar, born in Dublin with familial ties to Maharashtra, met with political leaders, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who leads the devolved region’s executive from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
Sunak expressed the need to focus on the work ahead after the meetings, emphasizing the success in protecting Northern Ireland's place in the union. He highlighted building on the Windsor Framework to ensure the smooth flow of trade in the UK, leveraging the benefits resulting from Brexit.
Downing Street provided insights into the discussions, noting that Sunak congratulated the Ireland rugby team for their recent victory against France in the Six Nations contest. The Downing Street statement highlighted the challenging times that led to the deal and the importance of patience. Sunak and Varadkar shared the goal of seeing all three strands functioning effectively now that the institutions were up and running again.
Both leaders acknowledged the positive impact of a stable, effective, and successful Northern Ireland on the UK-Irish relationship. The British government had committed to a financial package of GBP 3.3 billion for the newly formed executive at Stormont, described by Sunak as "generous and fair."
The return of power-sharing followed negotiations involving the government and the DUP of Northern Ireland, which withdrew from power-sharing in February 2022. The DUP's concerns about post-Brexit trade arrangements led to protests and withdrawal. Last week, a deal was reached with Number 10, ensuring no "routine" checks on goods crossing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The restoration of power-sharing marks a significant development in the region after months of discussions.
Taoiseach Varadkar expressed his delight at witnessing devolved democracy and the Good Friday Agreement in action, emphasizing the importance of the agreement signed in 1998 to bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
(With Agency Inputs)
