Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised David Cameron that he will be as "supportive and constructive" as possible in his bid to renegotiate the terms of Britain's membership of the European Union.
Following talks in Downing Street, Mr Kenny said that it was in the interests of Ireland and of Europe that Britain remained a "leading player" in the EU.
He said that he wanted to see Mr Cameron's promised in/out referendum once the renegotiation is complete result in a "yes" vote for the country to stay in.
"We want that to be a referendum that can be carried. It is critically important that Britain stays a central and leading player in the European Union of the future," he said.
"In that we will be as supportive and as constructive as we can. It doesn't mean we will follow you blindly on every issue.
"But insofar as the process is concerned I want to see that leading to a decision by the British people to stay in European Union because that is where the future for everybody lies."