Sir Chris Bryant held his first visit to Dublin as Northern Ireland Secretary on Monday, meeting Irish ministers to discuss legacy, security and cross-border economic ties.

He held bilateral talks with Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, and Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan. The agenda covered shared priorities including economic growth, joint security and both governments’ commitments under the Joint Framework on legacy.

Speaking to reporters, Sir Chris said the UK government would table amendments to the Troubles legacy bill in the coming days. He stated that both administrations needed to secure answers for families who had lived with decades of pain and anguish, adding that Westminster and Dublin must act in lockstep.

He also attended a business roundtable with UK and Irish leaders to promote Northern Ireland’s economic potential and encourage cross-border trade and investment. He was accompanied by Northern Ireland Minister Baroness Ruth Anderson and the British Ambassador to Dublin, Kara Owen.

The Secretary of State described the absence of an agreed Stormont budget nearly five months into the financial year as shocking. He said he wanted a budget finalised shortly and that the executive could consider more revenue-raising measures, while acknowledging significant pressures he wished to help address.

Unionist parties challenged the Secretary of State ahead of the visit. DUP deputy leader Michelle McIlveen called on him to robustly challenge the Irish government over its responsibilities for legacy. She said there cannot be one standard of accountability for the UK and another for Dublin, and demanded full Irish cooperation with the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.

TUV leader Jim Allister urged Sir Chris to raise the 1979 Narrow Water bombing with Irish authorities, referencing a case where forensic evidence was later reported lost by gardaí. He said the government appeared not to worry about unionist leadership and was continuing to deliver nationalist demands.

Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson said strong relationships between the Executive, UK and Irish governments were vital, and encouraged the Secretary of State’s focus on legacy and power-sharing reform. The SDLP welcomed the emphasis on trade and investment, and called for both governments to address the need for institutional reform in Northern Ireland.