Press release
Minister Byrne meets with U.K. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe, Leo Docherty
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, welcomed the U.K. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe, Leo Docherty MP, to Iveagh House on Wednesday, 16 November.
Minister Docherty is the first UK Government Minister, appointed by Prime Minister Sunak, to pay an official visit to Ireland. The Ministers discussed EU-UK relations, developments in Northern Ireland, bilateral ties, and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Minister Byrne stressed the government’s wish to see functioning institutions in place for the people of Northern Ireland and to see early substantive progress made in EU-UK talks on the Protocol.
Speaking ahead of his meeting with Minister Docherty, Minister Byrne said:
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to welcome my British colleague, Leo Docherty MP, to Dublin this week.
"It is important that time and space has been given to allow progress on the EU-UK talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol. This time must be used constructively so that lasting solutions can be agreed for people and businesses in Northern Ireland.
"Ireland and the EU both want the strongest possible relationship with the UK. We have seen the importance of this in the EU and UK’s ongoing response to Russia’s illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified invasion of Ukraine."