UK Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker and Irish Junior Finance Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill with both address the 64th plenary of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA).
Lawmakers at the assembly will also hear from Jersey’s Chief Minister Kristina Moore, Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel and Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf.
The two-day convention which will bring together politicians from legislatures across the islands of Britain and Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies, will take place 15-16 May in St Helier, Jersey.
BIPA holds bi-annual plenary meetings to improve mutual understanding of British and Irish perspectives, devolved nation and Crown Dependency, and to discuss and find consensus on matters of mutual interest. Much of the Assembly’s work between plenary sessions is conducted through four Committees which are representatives of all the Legislatures.
British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly Members engage in a wide range of parliamentary activities through plenary meetings and ongoing Committee work. Plenaries alternate between Britain and Ireland. The Assembly’s four standing committees meet regularly and examine matters of common concern dealing with sovereign matters
Speaking ahead of the event, Irish Co-Chair of BIPA Deputy Brendan Smith T.D. said: “We welcome the opportunity to hold a BIPA Plenary meeting in Jersey for the first time. Strand three of the Good Friday Agreement was never intended to focus solely on the relationship between Dublin and London but to embrace the totality of relationships. Ensuring continued East-West communication is a key part of Ireland’s bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom after Brexit and it is important that we deepen our engagement with the Crown Dependencies such as Jersey.”
British BIPA Co-Chair Karen Bradley M.P. said, “It’s a real pleasure to be here in Jersey at the invitation of the Chief Minister to welcome my BIPA friends and colleagues. We are long overdue to convene at the home of one of our Crown Dependency members. Their constructive contributions over the years have never been overlooked, but being in Jersey helps to recalibrate our thinking and internalise that this body is bigger than Britain and Ireland. Our deliberations will continue our mission to consolidate the relationship not only between our islands, but between them and the Crown Dependencies too.”
Notes to editors
Please note, this event will not be live streamed.
Limited spaces are available for members of the press to attend. If you wish to attend, please register your attendance with Tim West at westtb@parliament.uk by 5pm Saturday 13 May.
BIPA will endeavour to provide audio recordings and transcripts of the keynote speakers.
ENDS
For more on BIPA, see here.
Follow us on Twitter for updates: @BritishIrishPA
Assembly Co-Chairs:
UK: Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP (Conservative) Staffordshire Moors
Ireland: Brendan Smith TD (Fianna Fáil) Cavan-Monaghan
Media Contacts:
UK: Tim West (westtb@parliament.uk) +44 7933 386 949
Ireland: Áine McMahon (aine.mcmahon@oireachtas.ie) +353 85 800 7312
Follow us on Twitter for updates: @BritishIrishPA
