Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The British-Irish Council (BIC) was created, under the Good Friday Agreement, to further promote positive, practical relationships across these islands, and to provide a forum for consultation and co-operation on issues of mutual interest. It is the only international forum which brings together representatives of the Irish and UK governments, Northern Ireland Executive, Scotland, Wales, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and Jersey.

The BIC acts as a forum where Member Administrations can consult, share expertise and build strong partnerships. Member Administrations meet regularly, including at biannual Summits, the most recent of which the Taoiseach and I hosted in Dublin in November 2023.

The Council’s current work programme prioritises eleven specific work sectors across a range of social, economic and environmental topics. This includes areas such as energy, social inclusion, the marine environment, and indigenous languages. The Dublin BIC Summit in November 2023 placed a particular focus on Transforming Children’s Lives: Tackling Child Poverty and Improving Wellbeing. The Council also hosts conferences, seminars and study visits for experts in particular fields related to the Council’s current work programme. My Department has not commissioned any research through the British-Irish Council.