Coveney: New UK government will ‘reset’ relationship with Ireland

Mr Coveney thinks that Sir Kier’s administration will bring in some change to problems caused by post Brexit agreements, but he doesn’t expect “radical change of direction in terms of unwinding Brexit”.

He hopes for change to smaller challenges, like barriers to trade and “exploring whether it’s possible to look at a common veterinary agreement between the EU and the UK”.

“We do have treaties that Brexit is now based on so it won’t be easy to amend, to change, those, but I think the atmosphere for discussion, the trust between both sides certainly has the opportunity to improve,” he said.

Mr Coveney also believes Ireland’s position in the EU will be good for the UK.

“Ireland will be a big ally to the UK in terms of making sure it’s understood in Brussels and in the EU institutions, because for us the closer the relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU, the better for Ireland,” he said.