THE impact of Brexit on relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom will form the central theme when the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) meets in Cardiff on Monday, the first time they have met since the referendum..
Secretary of State James Brokenshire, Robin Walker, Minister in the Department for Exiting the European Union and Dan Mulhall, the Irish Ambassador to the UK will all speak at the Cardiff summit.
British Co-chair of BIPA Laurence Robertson MP said they were pleased to welcome BIPA members to Cardiff "at such a crucial time in UK-Irish relations".
"As the UK begins the process of leaving the EU, developing and understanding a new relationship with Ireland must be a priority.
"We have many issues to discuss including the border, trade and security and I look forward to hearing the perspectives of colleagues from my counterparts in the Oireachtas, and in the UK’s devolved institutions.”
Irish Co-Chair Kathleen Funchion TD said she welcomed "the opportunity to come together with our colleagues from across the islands to discuss a range of pivotal issues".
"In an uncertain political climate, Brexit will form the cornerstone of our discussions as we seek to strengthen the bonds of cooperation BIPA has built between us", she said.
If comes as Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon prepares to visit Dublin speaking ahead of the Cardiff summit that remaining in the single market is the UK's "least worst" Brexit option and "would be best for every part of the UK".
She said: "There should be an approach that is about staying inside the single market, because I think that is the best outcome, or rather the least worst outcome, for businesses and whole other range of interests in the UK and in every nation in the UK".
Speaking for the UK government Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said he would look at all options for a UK-wide Brexit deal.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness criticised Prime Minister Theresa May saying she should have attended the Cardiff summit personally.
Meanwhile, addressing a meeting at Queen's University, Belfast, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin claimed the continued failure to have a proper civic dialogue on Brexit was a clear breach of commitments under the Good Friday Agreement.
He pointed out that Northern Ireland would contain the largest concentration of EU citizens living anywhere outside the boundaries of the union.
