Relations between Wales and Ireland should remain a top priority, a Senedd committee has said.

The recommendation comes from the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee in its final report of the Sixth Senedd, which was published on St Patrick's Day.

The report calls for continued commitment to the Shared Statement 2030, the formal cooperation agreement between the Welsh and Irish governments that sets out a framework for collaboration until the end of the decade.

Delyth Jewell MS, chair of the committee, said: "As this Senedd draws to a close, we are calling for Wales–Ireland relations to remain a clear priority for the next Welsh Government.

"Our work has shown how valued and vibrant the connections between our nations are, with opportunities for deeper cooperation in areas such as culture, language, youth exchange, energy, and research."

The committee also recommended that the Welsh Government continue to raise the profile of cultural and creative links with the EU, involve stakeholders more fully, and ensure that funding matches the ambition behind the partnership.

Ms Jewell said: "Our appeal to a future Senedd committee is to continue this work, so that the Wales–Ireland relationship retains its special status and the progress made over recent years is not lost."

The report identified the Wales–Ireland relationship as the Welsh Government’s most developed strategic international relationship with another country and highlighted its potential for further collaboration across multiple sectors, including culture, language, youth exchange, energy, and research.

© South Wales Argus