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It鈥檚 fantastic to see you all here this morning.

Today鈥檚 summit really marks a new era in the relationship between the UK and Ireland.

I think we鈥檝e reset our relationship, turned a page on turbulent recent years and I think today鈥檚 announcements show that we鈥檙e serious about making our partnership meaningful, deep and beneficial for working people.

Today we鈥檝e announced over 拢185 million worth of new investment into the UK and an agreement to harness the full potential of the Irish and Celtic Seas, from bolstering the security of undersea cables to mobilising private investment.

In a moment, we鈥檙e obviously going to talk about what more we can do, this is a fantastic opportunity.

But before that, I鈥檇 like to make some quick points.

First, the need for a strong and settled relationship between the UK and Ireland has never been greater.

The world has changed dramatically since the UK and Ireland last set out a vision for closer bilateral relations back in 2012.

A lot has happened in the intervening years, and as we sit here today, I think we can all agree that our world is more unstable and uncertain than it鈥檚 been for a very long time.

And there are huge benefits to strengthening our friendships and working together on geopolitical challenges.

To strengthen all aspects of our security in a dangerous world.

That鈥檚 why in the UK last week, I announced the biggest sustained rise in defence spending since the Cold War.

An extra 拢13.4 billion year on year which will be invested in British industries, British jobs, British skills and British growth.

Because we aren鈥檛 just investing in Britain鈥檚 national security but in economic security for working people as well.聽

We were discussing this morning the interrelationship between security and defence, and economic security.

Second, you will know the UK has been working to strengthen our alliance with the EU.

As you know, that doesn鈥檛 mean rejoining the Single Market or the Customs Union or returning to freedom of movement.

But it does mean finding practical ways to work more closely together to boost trade, create jobs and deliver economic growth.

And in that context, I believe the partnership between the UK and Ireland has the potential to be a really positive force.

Third, as close neighbours and long-standing partners the benefits of stronger ties between us are huge.

We have strong people to people connections - they are incredible and should be celebrated.

Our supply chains are deep and intertwined, and have been for a very long time.

And we collaborate in a great many sectors, for example, we have two MOUs on Energy Transition and Energy Supply.

All of this points to the importance of an all-island economy.

And the huge potential to do more 鈥� working together for our mutual prosperity and security.

So I鈥檓 delighted this Summit will kickstart an ambitious programme of cooperation through to 2030.

There is a huge amount on our agenda, this is really ambitious.聽聽

It should be seen as new era where the UK and Ireland work closer than ever and cooperate across a wide range of issues.

That means making the most of opportunities to boost growth, jobs and trade.

But also working together on climate change, the energy transition, security, justice, education and defence.

We just had a business breakfast this morning and all of these issues came up, particularly the energy transition.

And through our partnership we will act as a positive example, demonstrating the benefits of cooperation and collaboration.

Today鈥檚 discussions are just the start.

We鈥檝e got really good teams on both sides, we鈥檝e got the time, the subject matter and the ambition.

But I want to focus on three themes as we go through this session.

The first is: how can the UK and Ireland work together to achieve sustainable growth?

Second, how can the UK and Ireland work together to build domestic security and promote stability? That was always on the agenda, but now it鈥檚 even more pertinent than ever.

Finally, how can the UK and Ireland collaborate to maximise shared opportunities in the transition to Net Zero?

They are the three themes, and areas of discussion this morning.