Joint communiqu茅 of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference
A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) took place at Dublin Castle on 24 June 2021.
A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) took place at Dublin Castle on 24 June 2021.
皇冠体育app Government of Ireland was represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Simon Coveney TD, and the Minister for Justice, Mrs Heather Humphreys TD. 皇冠体育app Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was represented by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP, and Robin Walker MP, Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office.
皇冠体育app Conference was established under Strand Three of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 鈥渢o promote bilateral co-operation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments鈥�.
皇冠体育app Conference discussed the following:
East-West Matters
皇冠体育app Irish and UK Governments affirmed the unique relationship between their two countries and the strong bilateral cooperation that takes place at all levels of government and across a range of important policy areas.
皇冠体育appy discussed the shared ambitions for the future of the UK-Ireland relationship and noted in this context discussions between the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach during their meeting in May 2021, and looked forward to further such engagements between the Prime Minister and Taoiseach.
Economic Co-operation
Both the UK and Irish Governments considered the critical importance of economic co-operation. 皇冠体育app UK Government welcomed the opening of the Irish Consulate in Manchester, and recognised how this will further bolster the ties between both countries. 皇冠体育app Conference agreed to examine new ways in which the two Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive can work together on areas of mutual economic interest, including on research and innovation, to ensure sustainable and equitable growth across these islands.
皇冠体育app Conference also provided updates on cooperation on the socio-economic development of the North West region. 皇冠体育app Conference noted the continuing and shared commitment to promoting greater reconciliation and the potential for future progress, including through the International Fund for Ireland.
Security Co-operation
皇冠体育app Conference examined the current security situation, and discussed the continuing threat posed by terrorism and paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland.
皇冠体育app Conference noted the importance of the high level of co-operation between the two jurisdictions to tackle terrorism and associated criminality.
Both the Irish Government and the UK Government recalled their commitments to the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement to ending paramilitarism. 皇冠体育appy noted the ongoing work of the Independent Reporting Commission and its importance in reporting on this vital work.
Rights and Citizenship Matters
皇冠体育app two Governments discussed the continuing vital importance of the Common Travel Area and its associated rights and privileges. 皇冠体育app Conference recalled the steps taken to further strengthen the Common Travel Area, including the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding on the CTA, and the agreement on the Convention on Social Security and in 2019, the agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding on CTA Healthcare Arrangements in 2020, and the adoption of relevant legislation in both jurisdictions.
Legacy
皇冠体育app Conference discussed the urgent need to make progress on a collective basis on Northern Ireland legacy issues in a way that supports information recovery and reconciliation, complies fully with international human rights obligations, and that responds to the needs of victims and survivors, and society as a whole.
皇冠体育app UK and Irish Governments agreed there was a need for a process of intensive engagement in the period immediately ahead with the Northern Ireland parties and others on legacy issues. It was agreed that this would need to build on previous discussions around the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and to take account of the views of all participants including new proposals which the UK Government intended to bring forward. 皇冠体育appy agreed that the interests and perspectives of victims and survivors, and all those most directly affected by the Troubles, had to be central to the discussions.
皇冠体育app UK and Irish Governments also discussed issues of concern in respect to a number of individual legacy cases.
Political Stability
皇冠体育app Conference reviewed political developments since the last meeting in May 2019 and welcomed the restoration of all the political institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement following the New Decade, New Approach agreement in January 2020.
皇冠体育app Irish and UK Governments confirmed their shared determination to work together to maintain political stability across the devolved institutions. 皇冠体育app Conference agreed to continue close co-operation in accordance with the three-stranded approach established in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
COVID-19 Recovery
皇冠体育app Conference considered the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on both jurisdictions. Both the UK and Irish Governments discussed developments in relation to international travel, including the importance of monitoring of any evolving variants and reaffirmed their commitment to close cooperation on recovery.
Future Meetings
It was agreed that the Conference would meet again in early November.