British PM on first official visit to Ireland

 

Xinhua, May 19, 2011

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Wednesday met with his British counterpart David Cameron, who is in Ireland for his first official visit since he was elected prime minister in May last year, and exchanged views on European issues, the make-up of the new Northern Ireland Assembly and the potential of developing the all-island economy.

During the meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin, Kenny described the reaction of the Irish people to British Queen Elizabeth II's ongoing visit as "exceptionally positive" and thanked Cameron for attending the state dinner in Dublin Castle. The Irish prime minister also expressed his gratitude to Cameron for the bilateral loan agreed between Britain and Ireland.

Britain last year agreed a 3.8-billion-euro loan to Ireland, one of its biggest trading partners, as part of an EU-IMF economic rescue package.

Cameron, whose visit coincided with the Queen's visit to Ireland, said that he was particularly delighted to be in Ireland at the same time as the Queen's visit which he described as " hugely successful and very significant."

He spoke about the nature of the relationship between Ireland and Britain, depicting it as a "relationship of opportunity." He said that the main relationship between the two countries was about trade and investment and the economy, adding that they were working very closely together.

The British prime minister also spoke about common interests involving security, saying that work between the police force of the Irish Republic and the police in Britain's Northern Ireland had never been stronger.

Kenny also welcomed the announcement by the British Olympic Council about the possibility of the Olympic flag passing from Belfast to Dublin before the Olympics takes place in London next year.