Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the June British-Irish Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26851/14]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Taoiseach if he held any bilaterals when attending the British-Irish Council meeting in June; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26852/14]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together.

I attended the 22nd British-Irish Council (BIC) Summit hosted by Chief Minister, Jonathon Le Tocq, in Guernsey on 13 June 2014. The Council discussed the current economic situation in Member Administrations. It also discussed the various initiatives that are in place to stimulate the economy. The Council reviewed the latest youth employment statistics, welcomed the recent encouraging trends and acknowledged the value that focussed discussion on the economy had on the overall work of the BIC. The Council had a detailed discussion on the economic importance of transport links focussing on how the promotion of effective transport links between Member Administrations can be beneficial to their economic development.

The Council also received an update of the work that had taken place across each of the twelve work sectors since the last Summit in November 2013. In particular the Council welcomed the paper produced by the Collaborative Spatial Planning Work Sector setting out the various positions of Member Administrations. I availed of the opportunity on the margins of the Summit to speak briefly to Deputy Prime Minister Clegg, First Minister Robinson and deputy First Minister McGuinness.