Ireland’s premier has congratulated Andy Burnham on becoming Prime Minister.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Mr Burnham was “a great champion of deeper links between Ireland and Britain”.
In a statement, he said: “I look forward to working with him to further strengthen the partnership and friendship between our two countries.
“Our relationship has deepened further in recent years with annual UK-Ireland summits, and our respective roles as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement.
“We will also work to facilitate a stronger relationship between the UK and European Union.”
Mr Martin added: “I will work with Prime Minister Burnham to ensure that close co-operation between Ireland and the UK delivers real tangible benefits for people, communities and businesses right across these islands.”
The Taoiseach said he knew the Prime Minister from “previous meetings” when Mr Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester.
He said: “He came to Ireland on a number of occasions and also, of course, when we met at the Anglo-Irish Summit in Liverpool the year before last.
“We will work closely with him. We are co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, and we look forward to continuing the very good relationship we had with Keir Starmer and this government in terms of the Good Friday Agreement, the joint framework declaration on legacy, and that we can progress the legislation.
“Also then in the context of the European Union, that we can work to facilitate a stronger and warmer relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union – and I think we’ve made good progress on that front.”
Meanwhile, the leader of Sinn Féin said Mr Burnham’s appointment “offers an opportunity to begin a new chapter in relations between Britain and Ireland”.
Mary Lou McDonald said she hopes he will show “courage and imagination” as she insisted referendums on Irish unification are approaching.
She said: “His time in office will be important as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and advancing towards referendums on Irish unity.
“I hope his government approaches this work with the courage and imagination shown by previous Labour governments during the peace process.”
Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin intends to “work constructively” with the Labour Government to address the “considerable challenges and opportunities before us”.
She added: “The appointment of Andy Burnham as Labour Leader and British Prime Minister offers an opportunity to begin a new chapter in relations between Britain and Ireland.
“I hope his government approaches that task with the courage and imagination shown by previous Labour governments during the peace process.”
Ms McDonald said the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement was unfinished as she insisted provisions for referendums must be “honoured in full” .
She added: “Sinn Féin will judge Prime Minister Burnham by his actions. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we will assess his government’s commitment to investing in public services, providing the Executive with the resources and powers it needs to deliver, and full implementation of the agreement.
“We will make it clear that the British Government’s approach to legacy at this time is not acceptable and will be resisted by victims and survivors with the full support of Sinn Féin, and it must change.”
When he became Labour leader last week, Mr Burnham put greater devolution at the centre of his political agenda and stressed that this would apply to “all places” – including Northern Ireland.
