Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 5 Mar
IRELAND IS “OPEN to any invitation” to assist in peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine, Micheál Martin has said, but the Taoiseach stressed that Irish forces “will not be part of a deterrent force”.
Martin made the comments in Liverpool where he is set to take part in a meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer later this evening, opening the first Ireland-UK summit.
Asked if Ireland would support Starmer’s ‘coalition of the willing’ - a group of European, countries led by the UK and France, seeking to strike a peace deal in Ukraine – the Taoiseach said Irish Defence Forces would only be deployed for peacekeeping operations.
“I pay tribute to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his leadership over the last while,” Martin told reporters this evening. “I think he’s been effective and impactful. We all want peace. There are too many wars in the world.
“Too many young people are losing their lives on the battle fronts. It impacts on livelihoods all over the world, particularly Ukrainians, particularly people in the Middle East, particularly Sudan and other areas.
“I think Keir Starmer is really looking at the realities of the world today and is leading well, in terms of working with the European Union and other leading European states to try and deal with this situation,” he added.
Starmer’s plan, which sees the UK Prime Minister working alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, seeks to take steps towards bringing about a “lasting peace” in Ukraine, which is backed up by security guarantees from Nato and EU member states.
It came after the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was shouted at by US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office last week, as the Ukrainian leader sought to secure future protection vows from the Americans.
Once a plan has been arranged, the European leaders will approach Trump with the agreement, in the hopes to secure American security promises in Ukraine to deter future attacks or the breaking of a ceasefire arrangement by Russia.
Macron and Starmer may flank Zelenskyy at his next meeting at the White House, as talks escalate, the French government confirmed today.
On joining Starmer’s efforts, Martin said the Irish government has been “clear” that it will only join peace efforts if and when a ceasefire or an agreed end to hostilities in Ukraine.
“Ireland has always been open to peacekeeping,” he said. “But, we wouldn’t be part of a deterrent force. They are two different and distinct issues.
“We are open – have always been open, depending on the context – to any invitation to participate in genuine peacekeeping and ensure that any cessation of hostilities can lead to a durable, sustainable peace. Any peace in Ukraine had to be durable and sustainable.”
Martin is in Liverpool ahead of a Ireland-UK summit between delegations of ministers from both governments to discuss the economic ties between both nations and the opportunities for future collaboration.
It follows a pledge last year to improve relations with the United Kingdom after a visit and meeting between then-Taoiseach Simon Harris and Starmer , who agreed to bring ties between their countries to a “new level”.
A dinner is taking place the evening, co-hosted by Martin and Starmer, to mark the beginning of the restart of annual engagements between both governments.
This year’s summit comes at an ample time for Martin, who is primed for a meeting in the Oval Office next week. A spokesperson for the Taoiseach said yesterday it was likely that Starmer and the Fianna Fáil leader would brief each other on the visit.
Speaking with reporters this evening, Martin was hesitant to drift off topic from the engagements in Liverpool, stating that he wants to focus on the economic and cultural ties between Dublin and London.
But, asked whether he would be seeking advice from Starmer on his one-to-one with Trump, the Taoiseach said he would not. He said it was likely the pair would exchange notes about the global issues of the day.
“I won’t be seeking advice. I’ve met quite a number of people, but we will obviously discuss the issues of today,” he said.
“We will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the geopolitical situation more generally. In respect of any other meetings I have this week or next week in the US and elsewhere, people come to the table with different perspectives.
“I respect people. I respect the offices that people hold, and it’s honor to be invited to the White House as an Irish Taoiseach given the relationship between our two countries, a very strong economic relationship, but also the ties that have binded Ireland and America together for a long, long time.”
Tomorrow’s plenary – a meeting involving every ministerial delegation from Ireland and the UK – will focus on sustainable growth, safe and reliant societies and the green energy transition.
Martin will be joined by Tánaiste Simon Harris, Minister for Education Helen McEntee, Minister for Energy and Climate Change Darragh O’Brien and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.
On the UK side, Starmer will be joined by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn.
It is likely these ministers will seek to explore areas where Ireland and the UK can collaborate in those fields. There will be less coming out of this first summit than would have been hoped (planning was interrupted by Ireland’s general election last year).
The situation in Ukraine is expected to be discussed by Martin and Starmer tonight at dinner, and largely dominate the ministers’ attention as UK appears as the frontrunner in possible peace negotiations with European nations.
But, it is understood that Ireland is keen to tap into the British government’s expertise when it comes to off-short wind infrastructure. A large portion of this week’s discussion will also be reserved for joint-initiatives to reach net-zero climate commitments.
With reporting from Jane Matthews
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Limerick is bigger than Galway.
At least a third of its population is in long established suburbs outside the out of date city limits used in the census.
Almost all of Galway city is inside the official city area.
@Ciaran O’Mara: The City figures should be used, and its about time too because every single population figure in Ireland is exaggerated – for what reason I don’t know. People like to include far off villages and towns in ‘city’ population figures, i had someone tell me ‘greater Cork’ city had 600,000 people in it, turns out greater Cork city stretches to include the whole of county Kerry! Dont get me started on Dublins 1.8 million, that figure includes the population of 4 entire counties……..
@Meanderingsz: Yes city figures should be used. That is why come next March when the official census results are published you’ll find that Limerick City’s population will stand at 105,326 which I think you will is find is widely different from this gross underestimated claptrap that “the journal” would have you believe. I have also included a link to Limerick City & County Council’s official website https://www.limerick.ie/council/information-on-limericks-metropolitan-and-municipal-districts as well as an article relating to this discussion showing that the above figure was sought directly from the CSO by Limerick City & County Council http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/212681/council-moves-to-clarify-population-of-limerick-city.html. Slán agus beannacht Dé.
One of the issues for Limerick city is that some of it is in county Clare and thus not counted as being in Limerick.
@Simon Tuohy: Yes that is true. It would further increase the City population by 5000 is areas such as Shannon Banks, Westbury and Parteen were included in the City population figures.
@Conor Walsh: My point was, City councils love to draw a big wide circle around the actual city to include vast swathes of rural hinterland – re-drawing boundaries does not change the real population of the urban settlement, it exaggerates it – which is ALWAYS the aim.
In the UK a town or city has a tightly drawn boundary where the continuation of urban area is included until there is a rural gap of a specified distance. A gap between one urban settlement and another means they are considered different settlements. Metro Areas include different settlements that are close and share a central sphere of influence. I assume Limerick Council is far larger than the city itself…
Dublin City population is rarely uttered because it bothers people that it sounds small – so people often use the ‘Greater Dublin’ figure of 1.8 million, people don’t realise that this includes not only Dublin County, but Wicklow, Kildare and Meath counties in their entirety, and area twice the size of greater London.
@Meanderingsz: When it comes to Limerick’s population figures the boundaries were redrawn in 2014 with the amalgamation of Limerick City and Limerick County councils. The boundary includes Limerick City, Castletroy, Annacotty, Lisnagry, Castleconnell, Dooradoyle, Raheen, Caherdavin, Corbally and Patrickswell as this reflects the larger urban area of Limerick. It however excludes areas such as Shannon Banks, Westbury, Parteen, Cratloe, Clonlara and O’Briensbridge in county Clare as well as Newport and Birdhill county Tipperary. With regards to the Greater Dublin Area I agree that the population is grossly overestimated containing all of Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow but that does not apply to Limerick. The EU defined the Limerick LUZ (Larger Urban Zone) as 167,000. If I were to use that figure i’d agree that it too would be grossly overestimating the population of Limerick City.
@Conor Walsh: Ok fair enough.
Look for once and for all limerick has a tiny population and it embelishes what it has by pushing it’s city bounds right out to meet the cows. There are 550,000 people in Co.Cork. 120,000 in a ridiculously small city boundry that is about to change and 300,000 living i suburbs connected to the city but not inside the much laughed at city boundary, the countryside takes the rest. So basically lads your arguing against facts and figures here which is a battle nobody should take on.
Typical Journal; pad out a boring small jobs announcement story with utter claptrap about population size. We take the bait and an argument in the comments section ensues. I’m fastly losing faith in this media outlet (although the others seem just as bad).
Castletroy (Just outside the city centre ) has 40000 people alone if you include Monaleen and Annacotty suburb.
@Crocodylus Pontifex:
The confusion is understandable but lasy from the Journal. I am only posting because this kind of article is ultimately damaging to Limerick. Around 40% of the urban area is not being counted for historical reasons, city/county politics mostly. Please see the facts below from the CSO for 2011, the link is provided (page 13)
Dublin city and suburbs: 1,110,627
Cork city and suburbs:198,582
Limerick city & suburbs: 91,454
Galway city & suburbs: 76,778
Waterford city & suburbs 51,519
http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011pdr/Census_2011_Highlights_Part_1_web_72dpi.pdf
Approximately 100,000 people live in the city and suburban areas
Limerick and Waterford are really only large towns. There are places in England that are referred to as market towns – and they can have populations in the region of 100k
@John Ryan: Very True – but you’re gonna get red thumbs for saying something people don’t want to hear – irrespective of how true it is. Ignorance is bliss…
Did not realise you were a west brit.
Then why not include Galway in your list along with Limerick and Waterford?
This is a very strange article…a news story about a Jobs announcement ends up in a rant about the “official” size of Limerick!!!
It always seems to be Limerick that gets singled out for this nonsense….remember when The Irish Independend farsically and to great damage declared Limerick to be The Murder Capital of Europe”…we were big enough then to be compared with 600 bigger cities or so around the Continent then…
Tis true for the late Sir Terry Wogan….rise above it!
“haf a billin… 300 jabs…. two sixteen, two seventeen”
Every time I see that picture of Noonan, I can’t help but think “Pull my finger”
The figure used in the article above grossly misrepresents Limerick’s actual population. When you include mature suburbs which are continuous with the city boundaries, such as Castletroy and Dooradoyle etc., the population is in the region of 100,000. Limerick is Ireland’s third largest city, and making vague allusions that it gets more than it deserves in terms of investment, based on inaccurate information, is simply bad journalism.
Facts are limerick is starting to boom. A positive story somehow ends up with negative undertones. I wonder why this is?
€500m,and the country is going on strike.no fault to the Limerick people.
I wonder will any of them go to Irish people?
have your say