Charles Flanagan
Question:49 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the future of the British-Irish Inter Parliamentary Body in the context of the Good Friday Agreement. [24481/99]
Written Answers. - Good Friday Agreement.
The British-Irish Interparliamentary Body has, for almost ten years, played an important and constructive role in improving relationships and understanding between members of both parliaments, here and in Britain.
The establishment of the British-Irish Council under the Good Friday Agreement will bring together the Irish and British Governments, with the Scottish, Welsh, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Island administrations. The Agreement also encourages the parliamentary institutions of the BIC members "to develop interparliamentary links, perhaps building on the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body".
I would be fully supportive of the development of an interparliamentary tier to the British-Irish Council. I am conscious, however, that this is a matter for the Oireachtas and the other elected institutions concerned. I am aware that the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body has already begun to consider this question, and I look forward with interest to the outcome of its deliberations.