The Northern Ireland Office said in a press release dated 24 August 2026 that Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant was in Dublin that day for his first visit to the Republic of Ireland since taking office. The planned programme included bilateral meetings with Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee TD, and Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan TD, on shared priorities including economic growth, joint security and both governments' commitments on addressing the legacy of the past.

The schedule also included a roundtable with business leaders from across the UK and Ireland on unlocking Northern Ireland's economic potential, boosting cross-border trade and encouraging investment. Baroness Ruth Anderson, a Northern Ireland minister, and Kara Owen, the UK ambassador to Dublin, were due to join him.

In comments issued ahead of the engagements, Bryant said the UK-Ireland relationship was fundamental to shared security and prosperity and had been significantly strengthened over the past two years. He said he was committed to working collaboratively with Dublin ministers to uphold the Good Friday Agreement and deliver on legacy commitments made under the Joint Framework.