Pat McFadden MP has made his first visit to Northern Ireland after being appointed as Minister for Intergovernmental Relations.
He also holds the role of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster within the Cabinet Office – the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office behind the Prime Minister.
In his visit on Thursday, he and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn met with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.
During the meeting, they discussed how they “could work together to boost economic growth across the UK, as well as further opportunities for collaboration.”
Mr McFadden visited Stormont, the Northern Ireland Office at Erskine House and toured Red Bay Boats’ manufacturing facility in Cushendall.
The Government takes seriously having a good working relationship with the Northern Ireland Executive. The Secretary of State and I had a constructive and valuable meeting today with the First Minister and deputy First Minister discussing the forthcoming Council of Nations and Regions and the UK’s International Investment Summit. Everyone wants their citizens to have good jobs and rising living standards and we are all resolved on that point.
– Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Pat McFadden MP
The Minister for Intergovernmental Relations “leads coordination with the devolved administrations on the Prime Minister’s behalf, working closely with the Territorial Offices, to make sure that across government work is being done on behalf of the entire United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.”
