Taoiseach meeting Starmer in Cork for UK

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived at Fota House in East Cork for a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin. It is the key political event of Mr Starmer's two-day visit to Cork, which is part of the second annual UK-Ireland summit. Both leaders have committed to closer working relationships on maritime security, trade, energy and culture. They are joined at this morning's meeting by senior Irish and British Cabinet Ministers. The Irish Government summit delegation comprises: Taoiseach Micheál Martin; Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris; Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence Helen McEntee; Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment, and Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien; and Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan. The UK Government delegation comprises: Prime Minister Keir Starmer; Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn; Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emma Reynolds; and Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle. The meeting is scheduled to last around 90 minutes and a communique is expected to be issued once it ends. Ireland, UK agree to work together on maritime security The Irish and British governments have agreed to work more closely to strengthen the resilience of the subsea fibre optic cable network which runs between the two countries. It is one of a number of agreements that will be formally announced following the meeting at Fota House. Downing Street has said both governments have agreed to work more closely to strengthen the resilience of the extensive network of subsea fibre optic cables that run between the UK and Ireland. Downing Street said that both countries have also committed to completing a series of joint exercises to rigorously test their responses to a major cable incident. A UK-Ireland memorandum of understanding on defence has also been given, what is being described as a "refresh", which brings it up-to-date with the current security landscape. The UK government said the new agreement includes a focus on maritime, cyber and joint procurement initiatives so that, amid increasing hostile state activity, the UK and Ireland are enhancing information‑sharing, coordination and planning, to better detect, deter and respond to threats across the Irish Sea and north-east Atlantic. Mr Starmer will also announce later today investments of more than €900 million by 15 Irish companies in the UK. The investments are expected to lead to the creation of 850 new jobs in the UK. The investments, many of which are supported by Enterprise Ireland, are in areas such as AI-powered corporate services, renewal energy and telecommunications companies. Read more: €5m funding for 12 Ireland-UK cultural projects announced Progress will also be announced on work to complete two new energy interconnectors. One of these, which will connect Wales and Ireland, will provide enough power for more than half a million homes. It represents an investment of more than €850 million in the two countries. The second interconnector will be between Northern Ireland and Ireland. Mr Starmer said the investments would make both the UK and Ireland better off and more secure. "The UK's close friendship with Ireland is going from strength to strength and I am pleased that we are going further in working together on growth, energy, security and more," Mr Starmer said. "This new Irish investment coming into the UK is one part of a much bigger picture of our flourishing cultural, commercial and security ties. "The action this [UK] government has taken to reset relationships and deepen partnerships with our closest allies is paying off. It will help us withstand global challenges and protect money in the pockets of families up and down the country."