A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place on 25 July 2018

News

Meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, 25 July 2018

A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place on 25 July 2018.

The Irish Government will be represented by Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and by Mr. Charles Flanagan T.D., Minister for Justice and Equality.

The UK Government will be represented by the Rt. Hon. David Lidington MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and by the Rt. Hon. Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. 

The meeting of the Conference will discuss the effective operation of the institutions of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement; North/South Security Co-operation; and bilateral co-operation between the British and Irish Governments.

Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said:

“We look forward to this meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement.  Both Governments as co-guarantors of the Agreement are fully committed to working together to achieve the earliest operation of the devolved institutions, and to working together for the mutual benefit of all of the peoples of these islands.”

Mr. Charles Flanagan T.D., Minister for Justice and Equality said:

“Maintaining a stable security environment is a key aspect of the process of peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The Authorities in both jurisdictions will continue to work closely together to achieve that aim.”

ENDS

Press Office

28 June 2018

Notes for Editors:

• The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference is an institution of the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement under Strand Three of the Agreement that brings together the British Government and the Irish Government “to promote bilateral co-operation at all levels on matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments”. 

•  The Agreement provides for “meetings of the Conference concerned with non-devolved Northern Ireland matters, on which the Irish Government may put forward views and proposals”. The Conference also deals with “all-island and cross-border co-operation on non-devolved issues”.

• The Agreement also provides that “there is no derogation from the sovereignty of either Government”. 

• The full text of the section of the Agreement dealing with the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference is available at this link.