NI Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to visit Dublin

Sir Chris Bryant, the recently appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, is scheduled to visit Dublin on Monday for his inaugural trip to the Republic of Ireland since assuming office.

During his time in Dublin, Sir Chris will participate in various engagements, including discussions with government ministers and representatives from both UK and Irish businesses.

Ahead of his visit, Sir Chris stated his commitment to collaborating with ministers to uphold the Good Friday Agreement and to "deliver on the commitments on legacy that both governments have made." He also highlighted the significance of economic ties between the UK and Ireland, emphasizing his intention to advocate for Northern Ireland's "immense economic potential."

The Secretary of State will hold bilateral meetings with Helen McEntee TD, Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Jim O'Callaghan TD, Minister for Justice. Their discussions will encompass shared priorities such as economic growth, joint security, and the commitments made by both governments regarding the legacy of the past.

The Labour government is currently advancing legislation to repeal and replace certain provisions of the previous Conservative government's Troubles legacy legislation. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, introduced at Westminster last year following an agreement on a joint framework with the Irish government, aims to establish a new approach to addressing the legacy of the Troubles while incorporating additional safeguards for veterans. Legacy issues are anticipated to be a central topic of discussion during Sir Chris's visit to the Republic of Ireland on Monday.

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the application deadline for a scheme providing recognition and financial support to individuals with permanent physical or psychological injuries resulting from Troubles-related incidents would not be extended.

On Monday, Sir Chris will also attend a roundtable with prominent business leaders from across the UK and Ireland to discuss strategies for boosting cross-border trade and encouraging investment. He remarked, "The UK-Ireland relationship is fundamental to our shared security and prosperity, and has been significantly strengthened over the past two years."

Accompanying the Secretary of State throughout the day's engagements will be Northern Ireland Minister Baroness Ruth Anderson and Kara Owen, the King's Ambassador to Dublin.

Sir Chris previously visited Northern Ireland in July, stating his arrival with "a checklist of things I want to get sorted" rather than a chequebook. His engagements in Northern Ireland included meetings with political parties at Hillsborough Castle. Parties within the Northern Ireland Executive had been advocating for increased government funding to enable them to set a budget. Sir Chris acknowledged that the parties had already made strong representations to him regarding funding but indicated he would not have "a set of decisions for people."

Sir Chris Bryant succeeded Hilary Benn as NI Secretary of State following Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Cabinet reshuffle last month. He described his appointment as a "quite a shock" and the role as "daunting." The Secretary of State informed BBC News NI that his new position demanded "such phenomenal responsibility" and stated that a border poll on Irish unity was "not on my list of priorities at the moment."

The Northern Ireland role marks Sir Chris's first cabinet position, though he previously held several shadow front bench roles under Sir Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn. He joined the Labour party in 1986 and has served as an MP for the Welsh constituency of Rhondda and Ogmore since 2001.

The Welsh MP is a former Anglican priest who left the church in 1991 due to its stance on homosexuality. In 2010, he and his long-term partner, Jarred Cranney, were the first couple to enter a civil partnership in the Palace of Westminster. In 2023, he received a knighthood in recognition of his campaigning work related to acquired brain injury and melanoma, a type of skin cancer.