The Government has announced that former Taoiseach John Bruton is to chair a Brexit-related legal group.

The Brexit Legal Services Implementation Group will support a joint initiative of the Bar of Ireland and the Law Society to promote Ireland as a "leading centre globally for international legal services".

The group was launched on Friday by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

On the announcement, he said: "I am delighted that John Bruton has agreed to be chair of the implementation group.

"He brings with him not only his wide political experience and standing at both national and international level, but also his previous successes in promoting our international financial services sector and as the EU's representative in Washington".

This initiative will promote Ireland as a leading centre globally for international legal services, and forms part of the Government's response to Brexit.

It is supported by the Government, IDA Ireland, the legal community, the Attorney-General and the judiciary.

Attorney-General Seamus Woulfe is a member of the group - along with senior officials of the Departments of An Taoiseach, Justice, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Business.

Minister Flanagan added: "While the ultimate outcome of the Brexit negotiations remains to be seen, the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union will leave Ireland as the only English-speaking common law jurisdiction in the union.

"We will be uniquely placed to provide expanded international legal, litigation and arbitration services."

Mr Bruton was called to the Bar of Ireland in 1972, and became Taoiseach in 1994.

He was also deeply involved in the Northern Irish peace process, leading to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

He also served as ambassador of the European Union to the United States from 2004 to 2009.

Currently, he is a member of the boards of Ingersoll Rand, the Irish Diaspora Loan Origination Fund, PIMCO Ireland based funds, the Irish Institute for International and European Affairs, and the Centre for European Policy Studies.

He is also chairman of the Public Interest Oversight Body of Deloitte in Ireland.