Ireland has never been as important to Britain as Britain has beento Ireland. Relations with our big neighbour, particularly vis-a-vis Northern Ireland, have been a top priority for every Irish government. Not so the other way round. So it has been something of a pleasant surprise to find that the new British PM, Tony Blair, has placed Ireland high on his agenda. He told Irish correspondents at a meeting in Downing Street this week that people doubted his statement that Ireland would command the same attentionas it had with his predecessor John Major. But it was doing so.
Indeed, a recent book on his first 100 days in office said Blair was astonished and dismayed by the amount of time he had to devote to Ireland. But it has paid off. Achievements in the past months have included an IRA ceasefire, the entry of both Sinn Fein and David Trimble to the talks and a breakthrough agreement among the party leaders. He has had bilateral meetings with leaders including the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and next week, despite fierce opposition in some quarters, with Gerry Adams.
Blair gave a slick, efficient and competent performance on Tuesday evening when he briefed the Irish media, including Quidnunc, for the first time since his May victory in the cabinet room at No 10 Downing Street. While there was progress on the talks it would be foolish, he said, to be "naively optimistic". It would be wrong and misguided of his government to believe that because it had a parliamentary majority it could push something through. There had to be agreement, but he had set the May deadline because he wanted to hurry things on.
Blair made the point several times that he wished there was more to the relationship with Ireland than the North. We were close on Europe and on economic co-operation. And yes, he had given thought to the Republic joining EMU. That was the Republic's decision. Britain had set its course and that should be of assistance. The issue was one of the most important between the governments.