Vol. 523 No. 5
167 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the next meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place; the number of meetings which have taken place since the adoption of the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21263/00]
Under the Agreement, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference brings together the Irish and British Governments "to promote bilateral co-operation at all levels on matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments". In particular, it enables the Irish Government to put forward views and proposals on non-devolved Northern Ireland matters, including in the areas of policing, rights and justice issues. It was established when the British- Irish Agreement entered into force on 2 December 1999.
The work of the conference is supported by a joint secretariat in Belfast, comprising Irish and British officials, and regular meetings and exchanges of information and views take place at official level.
The inaugural summit level meeting of the conference took place in London on 17 December 1999. No date has yet been set for the next meeting.
