Simon Harris and Rishi Sunak engage over NI in telephone call

Simon Harris was elected as taoiseach earlier this week

The taoiseach (Irish PM) Simon Harris has held telephone conversations with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Northern Ireland first and deputy first ministers.

It follows the Fine Gael party leader's election as taoiseach earlier this week.

Mr Harris and Mr Sunak "welcomed the restoration of the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland in February", the taoiseach's office said.

It said the pair also discussed the "very positive meeting" of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh on Monday and "the importance of the Irish and British governments working together to realise the potential of the Good Friday Agreement in full".

A statement said both had acknowledged "the depth and breadth of the British Irish relationship and the value they each attach to it".

"The humanitarian crisis situation in Gaza and the war in Ukraine were discussed and the importance of cooperation between the EU, the UK and international partners as they respond to them," the statement added.

Mr Harris also thanked Mr Sunak for "his good wishes on his appointment".

The taoiseach posted on X that he had "constructive engagement" with Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

He added that he "very much" looked forward to "further engagements with them both to bolster North South cooperation".

Mr Harris faced criticism from members of the opposition on Wednesday for not appearing in the Dáil (lower house of the Irish parliament) chamber to take questions.

Irish government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton said that Mr Harris was "not available" to take Leaders' Questions because he was "speaking with the UK Prime Minister, along with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland, and the Ukrainian President".

She added that Mr Harris will not take Leaders' Questions on Thursday as he will be in Brussels and Warsaw, but said he "will be present in the house next week".