Prime Minister, distinguished parliamentarians, patrons of CHAMP, Ambassador and friends:
I’m delighted to be back at the Houses of Parliament during St Patrick’s Week.
It’s wonderful to see that Ireland has so many good friends right across the political parties.
Thank you CHAMP for organising tonight’s event.
And Tourism Ireland for giving it such attention and support.
The Prime Minister and I have just met to discuss progress in the British- Irish relationship over the past year.
I believe we are both equally-pleased that this relationship grows ever-warmer and deeper, bringing clear benefits and opportunities to our peoples not just economically but culturally and socially.
Two things have effected a strengthening of those bonds.
Firstly our 40-year shared, membership of the European Union, and
Secondly the hope, trust and confidence we invested in each other, in the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement.
Both have transformed our relationship our sense of who we are and just as critically who we can be as close neighbours and now close friends.
Events of recent months show we still have a way to go, if we are to deliver on the promise of lasting peace and real reconciliation.
But even today, the Prime Minister and I had good discussions on our shared role as guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and indeed the St Andrews Agreement.
We renewed our support for the political parties in Northern Ireland to advance those aspects of the Agreements on which, to date, there has less progress than would be ideal.
The Prime Minister and I know that we can continue to rely on all of you and of the support of our friends in the British and Irish parliaments as we continue our work to support the process of peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
On the economic front, the Government, that I lead, has been working with the Irish people to implement our agreed plan for economic recovery.
I believe that Ireland is now heading in the right direction.
People’s hard work, patience and sacrifices are beginning to pay dividends Ireland is rebuilding its reputation, restoring its confidence, laying the foundation for a better, brighter, more prosperous future.
The Irish economy is entering its third, consecutive-year of growth.
Our export-growth is strong, attracting record levels of investment.
Which, of course, helps our vital work in growing jobs and employment.
Our main goal is to successfully exit the Financial Assistance Programme and re-enter the commercial bond markets on schedule by the end of the year.
As you know right now Ireland holds the Presidency of the European Council.
To maximise the potential of, and for, the EU Single Market, including the UK in terms of employment we have made stability, jobs and growth the core of our urgent agenda.
Of course Britain is our major trading partner.
€50 billion of goods and services are traded across the Irish Sea each year, securing a huge number of jobs, sustaining millions of families, in both economies.
Because you are such critical partners politically and economically it makes perfect sense to build on our trading relationship in order to carve out new business opportunities for British and Irish companies.
Particularly in vital sectors such as energy, food, financial services and, of course, in tourism.
Our shared economic life was a crucial aspect of what the Prime Minister and I spoke about today.
We look forward to pursuing this agenda at future Summits.
Let me conclude these brief remarks with an invitation.
Tourism Ireland has a big year this year.
We all look forward to welcoming to the island of Ireland the many visitors who will come to enjoy the events taking place around the Derry UK City of Culture 2013.
Many of you will have heard about The Gathering.
The initiative which aims to bring to Ireland in 2013 as many as possible of our friends who live abroad.
It will be a year-long celebration of everything great and unique about Ireland.
Of course, with the very large population of Irish people living and working in Britain, we are expecting a good response .
So if you have any professional connection to Ireland (and attendance at a CHAMP event qualifies as such a connection!), or you are just looking for an enjoyable holiday.
I extend a heartfelt and warm invitation to you to come and visit Ireland- the country of which I am so proud, and which I know you too hold in great affection particularly at this time of year.
Thank you and enjoy the evening.