Brexit and the Future of UK-Irish Relations

This article examines the impact of Brexit on the British-Irish intergovernmental relationship and places the assessment in the context of the contemporary history of the relationship. In particular, it highlights the importance of the intergovernmental relationship since 1985 and its role in the peace process and the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. In section one, the importance of the British-Irish relationship and the EU in achieving a peace process in Northern Ireland is examined and the implications of Brexit are assessed. In section two, Brexit’s challenges are outlined and in the third section Brexit’s impact to date is assessed. Finally, in conclusion potential methods of managing the relationship after Brexit are outlined and it is argued that stronger use of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference is necessary to ensure future cooperation, as well as developing stronger institutional links across a range of policy areas.