Principal Officer, British and Northern Ireland Division

The British and Northern Ireland Affairs Division comprises two units, which work together to support the Taoiseach and the Government in fostering reconciliation and developing relationships on the island of Ireland and between Britain and Ireland.

The British and Northern Ireland Affairs unit works to support and enhance North-South co-operation, and to promote and strengthen British-Irish relations, including relations with the devolved administrations. It also coordinates the Cabinet Committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland.

The unit supports the Taoiseach and Government’s work, with the British government, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions. This includes, in particular, supporting the Taoiseach’s participation in the North South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council as key institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, as well as the implementation of the New Decade New Approach commitments.

The Shared Island unit supports implementation of the Government’s commitment to work with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future on the island underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. The unit is examining the political, social, economic and cultural considerations for a shared future in which all traditions are mutually respected. The unit’s work includes supporting delivery of commitments on a shared island in the Programme for Government, fostering inclusive dialogue and commissioning research on a shared future. The unit works in close cooperation with other government departments and engages on an inclusive basis with civil society, North and South on the island. Further information on the Shared Island initiative is available here.