Taoiseach Bertie Ahern conveyed his congratulations to the new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a telephone conversation this afternoon.
Ir is understood the call was made by the new Prime Minister shortly after Mr Brown was appointed as Prime Minister at Buckingham Palace.
In a statement issued by An Taoiseach this afternoon, Mr Ahern said: "I have conveyed my very best wishes to Gordon Brown as he assumes office as Prime Minister.
"Mr Brown is a politician of exceptional experience and ability and I am sure he will discharge the office of Prime Minister with distinction. In this new era in British-Irish relations, we have much to look forward to in developing our relationship in all its many dimensions.
Of particular importance, of course, is to build on the precious foundation of peace in Northern Ireland."
"We agreed that our two Governments will continue to work closely together in the future," he concluded.