Queen Elizabeth’s state visit marked a new chapter in what a strong, positive and forward-looking relationship between Britain and Ireland, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said in Cork today.
He told a group of British and Irish parliamentarians that the success of the visit reflected “the new reality that relations between our own two countries have been transformed and strengthened in recent decades”.
Addressing the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA), Mr Kenny said reconciliation between the two countries had been “hugely advanced”, through the working together of successive Irish and British governments, alongside with the Northern Ireland parties, on the peace process.
“The closing of old wounds has given new life to the oldest of relationships. That relationship retains its historic resonance, but it also has a fresh and contemporary dimension,” he said.
“The question of identity has been central. Coming to terms with the issue of identity has played a large part of the progress that has been made between our two countries.”
The Taoiseach said equal respect for Irish and British identity lies at the heart of the Belfast Agreement and has underpinned all of the significant progress that has been made in Northern Ireland since 1998.
“That respect was captured perfectly by the presence, the words and the gestures of President McAleese and Queen Elizabeth - at Dublin Castle, at the Garden of Remembrance and at the National War Memorial,” he said. “And it was embodied by the warm welcome from the people of this city when the Queen visited Cork.”
The assembly - formerly the British-Irish inter-parliamentary body - was established in 1990 as a link between members of the houses of the British parliament and the Oireachtas.
In recent years, membership has expanded to include representatives of the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly, the High Court of Tynwald (Isle of Man) and the states of Guernsey and Jersey.
There are 68 members and two plenary sessions are held every year alternately in Britain and Ireland, with continuing work by four committees. The assembly is co-chaired by British Conservative peer Lord Cope of Berkeley, and Fine Gael TD for Donegal North East Joe McHugh, who was recently appointed to represent the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The gathering in Cork today and tomorrow is the 42nd plenary session. The previous plenary session took place in the Isle of Man last November.
