In a recent speech at the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin, the Irish ambassador to Great Britain, His Excellency Mr Bobby McDonagh, spoke about the British-Irish relationship in a changing European Union.
He referred to a joint statement made in Downing Street in March by the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister, David Cameron. According to the leaders, “The relationship between our countries has never been stronger or more settled, as complex or as important as it is today.”
It was the first statement between the governments of the two countries that was not focussed exclusively, or even primarily, on Northern Ireland.
Mr McDonagh said he was delighted to have heard these words, saying that, “Over many centuries, until as recently as a few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine those four adjectives (strong, settled, complex, and important), apart perhaps from the word complex, being chosen to describe the British-Irish relationship.”
The choice of these words, he said, illustrates just how far we have come.
Mr McDonagh said he enjoyed looking at some of the elements which have contributed to the immense progress in British-Irish relations in recent years, which gave him an opportunity to reflect on Ireland’s future and its relationship with Great Britain.
Important Factors in Co-operation
According to Mr McDonagh, Britain and Ireland’s simultaneous accession to the European Union, and our shared membership for nearly forty years now, has been important and positive…important politically, psychologically, economically and personally. Politically, it has brought our politicians together, month after month, for four decades, he said. It has given us deep common interests like never before, and a structure for pursuing those interests, as well as for resolving differences when they arise.
Such problem-solving abilities have been well-used in the Northern Ireland Peace Process, illustrating our shared interest in peace and prosperity on these Islands.
According to Mr McDonagh, there is a natural warmth between British and Irish people. “It is hard to imagine two countries which are closer culturally than Britain and Ireland,” he said. “We laugh at the same jokes, and follow the same football teams. There is a buzz when we get together. We’re similar enough to understand each other, and different enough to make each other interesting.”
He recalled also the genuine warmth of Prince Charles’ comments when he visited the Irish embassy in London: “Whenever I have been with Irish people,” Prince Charles said, “I come away with my spirits lifted.”
Mr McDonagh said: “It used to be said in Britain that the Irish built the roads, nursed the sick, and taught the children. Today, one could say that the Irish design the clothes, direct the plays, ride the winners, present the television programmes, and run the financial services industry.”
Economics
Mr McDonagh also highlighted the importance of the evolving business trade relationship between Ireland and the UK. “A billion euro of trade every week, more than a thousand flights a week, and 45 thousand Irish people on the boards of British companies,” said Mr McDonagh. Not only is the British market important for us, he said, but the realisation is dawning about how important the Irish market is for Britain. He said that no less than David Cameron had stressed that Britain currently exports more to Ireland than it does to China, India, Russia and Brazil combined.
He mentioned the importance of culture, and of the recent visit of Queen Elizabeth to Ireland, stating that perhaps now “the closeness of our Geography has at last become more important than the divisions of our history.”
Keeping the Love Alive
According to Mr McDonagh, we should be wary of losing what we have. He said we should not take our relationship for granted, but rather work on it. There is no alternative, he said – we must avoid any risk of assuming inevitability about the relationship to avoid “the myopia of closeness.”
He recommended we focus on welcoming British guests to our shores, as a small percentage increase in British tourism makes a bigger difference than larger increases elsewhere. Mr McDonagh hoped that we could find ways to add value to our relationships and projects, and continue to leverage our mutual history. He said the recent handshake moment between the Queen and Martin McGuinness was a case in point and a welcome development.
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
