Kenny was speaking after his first meeting with new British Prime Minister Theresa May in Downing Street today, where the message was about emphasising “the many issues where we share a mutual interest”.
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In the wake of the UK’s vote in favour of leaving the European Union (EU), the country will have to contend with the prospect of its Northern Ireland territory sharing a land border with EU member Republic of Ireland, a crossing which now enjoys a freedom of movement.
After the meeting, May also said both her and the Taoiseach wanted to maintain close economic ties in the future, involving the Northern Ireland Executive fully in preparations.
“A hard border in normal circumstances means customs posts and customs checks in various places”, Kenny said at a news conference in London, according to the Irish Times.
The Belfast Telegraph later reported that First Minister Foster, a Democratic Unionist politician said she welcomed May’s pledge to fully consult with the Stormont executive on the negotiations with the European Union, but Sinn Fein’s McGuinness said he told May that “Brexit brought no good news whatsoever”.
Mr Kenny said he and the British Prime Minister also discussed the countries interlinked trade relationship and the current benefits of the common travel area, but added that Ireland was “very much committed to staying in the European Union”.
Mrs May said they had discussed the impact that the referendum would have and stressed her “Brexit means Brexit” mantra.
The result has boosted the movement for Scottish independence, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying she will do whatever it takes to keep Scotland in the EU. Ms Sturgeon says one way around the issue might be for Scotland and Northern Ireland to remain in the United Kingdom along with the EU.
Brexit could also have economic repercussions for the region, which is the only part of the United Kingdom that borders an European Union country. She will also reiterate her commitment to delivering stability to Northern Ireland, according to a statement from her office.
The open borders agreement, set up in the 1920s, has been strengthened by both Britain and Ireland’s European membership. Its leaders were divided: Foster campaigned for Leave, while McGuinness, a former Irish Republican Army commander campaigned to remain.
May has put British unity at the heart of her premiership.
He added that although the negotiations are bound to be complex, Ireland will work with the whole of the United Kingdom to ensure that both parties can benefit.
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It’s as Prime Minister Theresa May pledged to find a “practical solution” to managing the Irish border following Brexit. The legal status of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement – which ended three decades of struggle between Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists in which 3,600 died – has been questioned since Brexit.
