UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin held the second UK-Ireland summit in Cork on Friday. Government ministers from both governments attended. The leaders visited the Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork beforehand.

Irish delegates included Finance Minister Simon Harris, Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee, Energy Minister Darragh O'Brien and Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. UK attendees comprised Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds and Business Secretary Peter Kyle.

Discussions covered cost-of-living challenges, domestic security and crisis management. Energy links featured prominently, including a connector between Northern Ireland and Ireland to reduce electricity costs across the border. A Wales-Ireland connector will supply power for 570,000 homes.

The day prior, Sir Keir Starmer announced £937m in investment from Irish companies into the UK to create 850 jobs. In Belfast on Thursday, Starmer met Northern Ireland political party leaders with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. At a women's centre near Belfast, he stated Autumn Budget funds for electricity costs would be released as quickly as possible.

That evening in Belfast, Starmer met business leaders alongside Martin, McEntee and Business Secretary Peter Kyle. He also met young people from the Ireland-UK youth forum advisory group.

Starmer warned heating oil suppliers in Belfast against unfair pricing. Most Northern Ireland homes use heating oil. The government asked the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate high price reports.

Simon Harris planned talks on tax arrangements for cross-border workers, including hybrid workers in Northern Ireland for Republic-based companies. Finance officials from both sides started discussions for an interim solution.