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Ambassador Blog 25/3/14

25 March 2014

I have now been in London as Ambassador for more than six months. Coming on posting to London is an unusual experience for an Irish diplomat. This is because we know so much about our neighbouring island that it does not spring surprises on us in quite the same way that countries further afield tend to do.

In my case, I came with additional personal memories from the late 1990s when I served as Consul General in Scotland between 1998 and 2001. Nonetheless, I have tried to see my host country through fresh eyes.

On arrival in London, it was clear to me that much had changed in the years since I left Edinburgh. One of the most notable changes has been in the climate of relations between Ireland and the UK. When I left Scotland in 2001, we were still in the early stages of the peace process. The institutions established by the Good Friday Agreement were not yet functioning.

Thirteen years later, much has changed for the better. One of the most remarkable changes has been the improvement in relations between London and Dublin. It's not that I can recall any time when relations were especially difficult, but there had always been a preoccupation with the situation in Northern Ireland and, therefore, less time available for looking at other aspects of the complex interaction between us.

In the wake of the Queen's visit in 2011, there has been a perceptible stepping up of ties across the Irish Sea. In 2012, the two Prime Ministers issued a Joint Statement on future cooperation. This gave rise to a detailed joint study of opportunities for collaboration between Ireland and the UK. There is now an annual Summit between the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister, and I had the honour on the 11th of March of participating in the latest meeting in this series. In February, our two countries organised an unprecedented joint trade mission when Ministers from Dublin, Belfast and London joined together to promote Irish and British goods and services.

We have also acquired a greater understanding of the mutual advantage flowing from our economic connections. The UK is Ireland's most important economic partner and trade valued at €1 billion currently crosses the Irish Sea each week. Remarkably, Ireland is Britain's 5th most important market. We are also vital to each other in terms of investment and tourism. There is a genuine two-way economic link between Ireland and Britain involving great benefit for both sides.

The historic State Visit to the UK by President Michael D. Higgins on 8-11 April will provide a further opportunity to highlight the importance of Ireland's relations with our nearest neighbour and to point the way to further positive developments in the years ahead. I look forward during my time as Ambassador to playing my part in this continuing journey of partnership between our two countries.

Daniel Mulhall

Ambassador