Chris Bryant is the newly appointed Northern Ireland Secretary of State.
The Welsh-born Bryant was appointed to the post by the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office at the beginning of this week.
Labour's Bryant is the eighth North Secretary to follow in the wake of Conservative Theresa Villiers who vacated the position in July, 2016.
He succeeded Hilary Benn who occupied the post for two years up until this week.
Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, bade a fond farewell to Benn.
Said McEntee: "I want to express my sincere thanks to Hilary Benn for his deep commitment to Northern Ireland, and to the UK-Ireland relationship more broadly, in his role as UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland over the last two years.
"He approached his role with purpose and understanding, and with a clear wish to make things better for all the people of Northern Ireland.
"That approach was what allowed both our governments to reach agreement last September on the Joint Framework on the Legacy of the Troubles, the first such comprehensive agreement on the issues in more than a decade. The Framework puts victims, survivors and families at its heart.
"Hilary has brought warmth and a constructive approach to all of his relationships here in Ireland, and indeed in Northern Ireland. I wish Hilary the very best in the future. I know that whatever he does, he will continue to contribute to building a positive relationship across these islands. I look forward to working with his successor in the time ahead."
Bryant and Burnham will be facing into a number of issues related to Northern Ireland. There is nothing new in that.
They make for an interesting pair. Burnham, who was born in Aintree, a suburb of Liverpool, is the first British prime minister raised as a Catholic. He has Irish heritage with family roots going back to counties Louth and Donegal. Bryant is a former priest in the Church of England.
