LAST UPDATE | 8 Apr
TODAY IS LEO Varadkar’s last day as Taoiseach and he is in Co Armagh at the first North-South Ministerial Council in nearly three years.
Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Varadkar and the first and deputy first ministers of Northern Ireland expressed confidence in the ability of the Stormont Executive to withstand the shock resignation of former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson.
The North-South Ministerial Council was set up under the Good Friday Agreement to develop cross-border co-operation between ministers in the North and the Republic.
It is the council’s first meeting since July 2021 as no meetings took place while powersharing was on hold in Northern Ireland.
Today’s meeting was hosted by First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Taoiseach and Tanaiste arrive at the plenary meeting of North South Ministerial Council in Armagh.
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) April 8, 2024
Today is Leo Varadkar’s last day serving as the Taoiseach pic.twitter.com/cAF1HBEH49
Varadkar announced his resignation as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader last month, saying he was “no longer the best person” to lead the country. He will officially hand in his resignation to President Michael D Higgins this evening.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris is expected to be voted in as Taoiseach in the Dáil tomorrow after securing the support of a number of independent TDs.
Harris also attended today’s council meeting in Armagh.
Fine Gael held its Ard Fheis in Galway over the weekend ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle this week.
Varadkar told delegates at the Ard Fheis he believes the party can achieve a “historic fourth term”, stating it is “time for the next chapter under Simon Harris”.
Plenty to discuss
Today’s council meeting comes in the aftermath of Donaldson’s resignation as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) as he faces charges for historical offences.
In February the DUP agreed to end a boycott and restore powersharing after negotiating a deal with Downing Street over post-Brexit trading arrangements.
Speaking to reporters in Armagh today, O’Neill said it is “business as usual as far as the Executive is concerned”.
“We’re here today as joint heads of government to be part of the North-South Ministerial Council meeting, and what the public deserve and want is leadership, and we’re prepared to provide that leadership,” she said.
“I think the public rightly want leadership at times of crisis, and I’m determined, and I believe Emma (Little-Pengelly) is also to provide that leadership.”
Little-Pengelly added that she is “absolutely determined to provide what stability I can to ensure that the Executive can continue in a positive tone”.
“The people of Northern Ireland demand that stability, they demand that delivery, I am very conscious of that and that is what I’ll be focusing on.”
She went on: “In relation to unionism in general, I believe unionism has a very strong and capable leader in Gavin Robinson.
“He has my full support and I know that he has the support of unionism right across the piece.”
Also speaking today in Armagh following the meeting, Varadkar expressed confidence that the devolved institutions will remain stable despite the leadership upheaval within the DUP.
Varadkar told reporters following the meeting that “events happen in politics” and that “what’s really important is that institutions should be able to function through them and withstand any disruption that may occur”.
“I know from my experience, having served in government for quite some time and having observed the institutions functioning and not functioning, what we know is that whenever they fall, they tend not to be re-established for many years,” Varadkar said.
“And I think we should always bear that in mind and make sure that we don’t see another break happen.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said they have we’ve been “very reassured” by the comments of Little-Pengelly and O’Neill about their commitment and the commitment of their ministers to the Executive.
“In that context, I’m confident enough in the resilience of the institutions,” Martin said.
“I think the more challenging aspect for the Executive will be the fiscal challenge, the economic challenge, but particularly the budgetary issues, and that’s clear from any of our conversations with ministers and the Executive,” he added.
The council was expected to discuss the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast, other infrastructure projects and filling vacancies on the boards of North-South bodies, among other issues.
The Irish Government recently committed to spending €800 million on projects in the North, including the A5 road, under the Shared Island initiative.
O’Neill told reporters the “meeting ran on because there was lots to discuss”.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for a refresh, and a huge opportunity as we are in the 25th anniversary year of the Good Friday Agreement,” she said.
‘Hand-holding’
When asked whether he will have to do some “hand-holding” with Harris in terms of European affairs and Northern Ireland, Martin told reporters that the incoming Taoiseach “has been in government for a considerable period of time and will be well aware of all of the issues”.
“In my capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense, on the key issues of Northern Ireland obviously I will be working flat out, as we said earlier, to make sure the institutions are resilient to support institutions to continue to develop the Shared Island initiative, which is having real significant impact on a number of fronts,” Martin said.
The Tánaiste was asked if he thinks the eye will be taken off the ball on Northern issues with Harris, to which he said he doesn’t believe so.
With reporting by Christina Finn (at the North-South Ministerial Council in Co Armagh) and Hayley Halpin
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