Speaking after his first meeting Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Taoiseach said he believes there is a will on both side to reach an agreement as the Brexit deadline fast approaches. The Taoiseach said he and Mr Johnson agreed it is “absolutely essential” that a free trade agreement be reached between the EU and UK. Mr Martin said it is vital that Ireland and the UK develop a strong relation after Brexit and invest in shared projects on the island of Ireland. This comes after Mr Johnson said he is looking forward to developing a relationship with the Taoiseach. Speaking ahead of their meeting, Mr Johnson said he wanted to develop relationships "all sorts of ways - East/West, North/South - you name it".

Source: Irish Independent August 13, 2020 13:24 UTC