I met with the new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, in Belfast yesterday. It was a very good meeting, and I hope that the return of the party of the Good Friday Agreement to government in London will prove to be a turning point and an opportunity to rebuild relationships.

One of the key issues I raised with the Prime Minister was immigration and the clear need for a bilateral agreement and arrangements between Dublin and London in respect of the safe return of asylum seekers. I know the Taoiseach will meet with the British Prime Minister at Downing Street. I ask that the Taoiseach press for those arrangements and that they be made speedily. The British Prime Minister indicated to me an acceptance, an acknowledgment and a willingness to arrive at those arrangements. I urge that that happen very speedily.

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this issue. I was very grateful to have an opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Starmer on his first day in office. I am pleased that he had an opportunity yesterday to visit Northern Ireland and meet with the First Minister, the deputy First Minister and the parties in Northern Ireland, including Deputy McDonald. I look forward to meeting him in Downing Street next week. I will obviously have a range of issues that I will want to discuss with him. I look forward to trying to get back to, as the Deputy says, the two Governments recognising their unique roles as co-guarantors of the peace process. So much good can flow from that.

Protecting the common travel area from abuse, including abuse in respect of migration, is a really important element. There has been a long-standing practice in this area. Unfortunately, these matters may have become too politicised in recent years. Protecting the common travel area from abuse is an important framework through which we can consider all of these issues.