Taoiseach Micheál Martin and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to hold UK-Ireland Summit in Cork

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will today (Thursday) welcome UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Cork for the second annual UK-Ireland Summit.

At last year's inaugural Summit in Liverpool, both leaders agreed to launch a comprehensive programme of cooperation out to 2030, spanning trade, energy, maritime security, emergency planning, and cultural connections.

This year's Summit, which will take place today (Thursday, March 12) and tomorrow (Friday, March 13) is an opportunity to mark progress on what has been achieved over the course of the past year in terms of new and strengthened cooperation, and to set out further ambitions for UK - Ireland cooperation for the remainder of this year, and out to 2030.

As well as hosting a summit meeting, the Taoiseach and Prime Minister will take part in a series of engagements reflecting the theme of 'Shared Prosperity, Shared Seas, Shared Ties'. This will include a research-focused visit, a business roundtable, a civic and cultural reception, and a discussion with young people from across Ireland and the UK.

A focus for the Taoiseach and Prime Minister will be to discuss how the two countries can work more closely together in laying the groundwork for future prosperity through infrastructure, competitiveness, clean energy, skills and innovation.

The summit takes place against a backdrop of global instability, underlining further the importance of engagement and cooperation across the Ireland - UK relationship.

Speaking in Cork ahead of the Summit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

"On behalf of the Government, I am delighted to welcome Prime Minister Starmer and accompanying UK Ministers to Cork. At our inaugural UK-Ireland Summit in Liverpool last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I agreed a comprehensive programme of strategic co-operation which is now beginning to deliver for the people of these islands. Today we will mark the progress on what has been achieved over the course of the past year and reaffirm our commitment to deepen and broaden further the co-operation, friendship and partnership between Ireland and the UK this year and out to 2030.

"This Summit takes place against an uncertain global backdrop and will be an opportunity to take stock of international issues, including the concerning situation in the Middle East and Gulf Region, and in Ukraine. Each day we see how international events can impact also on our domestic ambitions and daily lives, as well as on global security.

"Over the course of the Summit, we will discuss how we can strengthen competitiveness and resilience and reduce the cost of living, harness the potential of our shared seas while protecting our marine environment, deliver essential infrastructure at pace and scale, and ensure energy affordability and energy security across Ireland and the UK."

Notes for Editors:

• The inaugural UK-Ireland Summit took place on 5th and 6th March 2025 in Liverpool. At the Summit, the Taoiseach and Prime Minister agreed a wide-ranging programme of new and enhanced strategic cooperation between Ireland and the UK to be taken forward by both Governments through to 2030.
• Summit 2026 will be an opportunity to review progress and drive implementation of the UK-Ireland 2030 programme.
• In addition to a Summit plenary meeting, the Summit Programme will include a business roundtable event, a civic and cultural reception, an engagement with the Ireland-UK Youth Forum Advisory Group and a research focused visit.
• The Government of Ireland summit delegation comprises Taoiseach Micheál Martin; Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris; Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee; Minister for Climate, Environment, Energy and Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien; and Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan.
• The UK Government delegation comprises Prime Minister Keir Starmer; Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn; Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds; and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle.
• The Taoiseach and Prime Minister will meet young people from across Ireland and the UK, who represent the Ireland-UK Youth Forum, ensuring the engagement of a new generation in the strengthening of relations and that the voices of a younger generation are also heard.
• The first Ireland-UK Youth Forum was held in Dublin in January 2026 bringing together young people from across Ireland and the UK. The 2027 Youth Forum will be hosted by the UK.
• The Taoiseach and Prime Minister, accompanied by Minister Helen McEntee and U.K. Secretary for Business Peter Kyle, will join a round-table discussion with business leaders across the tech, finance, energy, and construction sectors whose work spans the UK and Ireland. This will be an opportunity to reflect on the dynamism of the Ireland-UK trade and investment relationship, and also to explore how the two governments and business can work together to deliver greater prosperity across these islands.
• Ireland is the UK's 6th largest trading partner, Irish companies employ in the region of 150,000 people in the UK contributing to and helping drive prosperity in both countries.
• The UK is Ireland's 2nd largest trading partner and over the past decade, annual bilateral trade has increased by 107% to €129 billion.