Leo Varadkar’s last official engagement as taoiseach saw him travel to Armagh on Monday for a North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meeting.
With the reinstatement of Stormont, this was the first NSMC meeting in three years. Ministers from North and South attended the meeting, including Simon Harris, who has since succeed Varadkar as taoiseach.
Issues up for discussion included the A5 road that links Donegal and Monaghan in the Irish Republic via northern counties Derry and Tyrone, and for which the Irish government has pledged €600 million, as well as Casement Park in Belfast, for which the Irish government has pledged €50 million, and the Ulster Canal.
Speaking to the press after the meeting Taoiseach Varadkar was joined by Tánaiste Micheál Martin, North First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
Varadkar said he was confident that the institutions in the North were sustainable.
“Events happen in politics, whether it’s changes in leadership, there’ll be elections for the House of Commons, there’ll be elections for the Dáil all within the next year, and what is really important is that institutions should be able to function through them and withstand any disruption that may occur.
“And that’s happened in the past, and I’m sure it can in the future.
“And 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.
“And I think we should always bear that in mind and make sure that we don’t see another break happen.”
Ahead of the meeting, the taoiseach said the North South Ministerial Council plenary “is a really significant and positive moment for the island of Ireland."
“It’s an honour to lead the Irish delegation of ministers to meet with our Northern Ireland Executive counterparts in my last major engagement as taoiseach,” he said.
“I will also take this opportunity to wish the First Minister and Deputy First Minister well in their roles to achieve the best for all the people of Northern Ireland. We are working with the Executive to build on the peace and prosperity of the last 26 years to make sure it is shared by all.”
Mr. Varadkar formally resigned on Monday evening when he met with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin.
