Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has said Northern Ireland’s interests will be protected in Brexit talks.

Mr Brokenshire made the remarks while addressing the annual conference of the UK’s ruling Conservative Party in Birmingham.

He said: “Building a Northern Ireland that works for everyone also means making a success of the UK’s democratic decision to leave the European Union.

“And I am in no doubt that Northern Ireland can and will.”

According to Mr Brokenshire, the Government “will work to ensure that Northern Ireland’s unique interests are protected and advanced”.

He spoke in support of continuing to operate the Common Travel Area after Brexit, saying the long-standing open borders agreement had “served the UK and Ireland well for many decades”.

However, legal experts have flagged up further issues affecting Northern Ireland which could arise from the UK’s exit from the EU.

Paul Gillen, employment partner at Belfast-based international firm Pinsent Masons, said: “We have observed the increase in people from Northern Ireland applying for Irish passports, and as EU passport holders this will protect their rights to travel and work in the European Union post-Brexit.

“However what has received less attention is the impact of any post-Brexit restrictions (rights to work, benefits and healthcare etc.) imposed on EU nationals in the UK, including Irish passport holders in Northern Ireland.

“Obviously given our complex history, politically it would be undesirable for Irish passport holders to be restricted in any way, as above, in Northern Ireland, nonetheless it does mean the region will have to be a specific point on the agenda for negotiations.

“Of course a practical solution could be for Northern Irish citizens to hold both Irish and UK passports, but this could raise important issues of personal identity for some people.”