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First British-Irish conference in NI for almost 20 years under way

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI Political Correspondent
EPA Hilary Benn looks sternly into the camera. He has white hair and is wearing round glasses, a blue shirt, red tie and dark jacket.EPA
Secretary of State Hilary Benn is hosting the meeting

A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) is under way in Northern Ireland for the first time in almost two decades.

The BIIGC was set up under the Good Friday Agreement and meets twice a year.

It last met in Dublin in December, just after the Irish general election was held.

Secretary of State Hilary Benn is hosting Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris and Ireland's Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan.

PA Media Simon Harris looks off camera. He has grey and dark hair brushed to one side. He is wearing a navy jacket, light blue shirt and red tie.PA Media
Tánaiste Simon Harris is attending the BIIGC

The BIIGC has not taken place in Northern Ireland since 2006.

Ministers have arrived and are expected to discuss a range of issues including legacy, given the ongoing move by Labour to repeal the NI legacy act.

The purpose of the BIIGC is "to bring together the British and Irish governments to promote cooperation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of both governments".

A joint release from both governments issued ahead of Thursday's meeting stated that the meeting would involve discussion about "ongoing efforts to find a way forward regarding the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland".

The conference will also cover political stability, security, and other areas of bilateral cooperation.

It follows the UK-Ireland summit last month, where the two governments pledged to work closely to deliver security, investment and growth.

Mr Benn said: "This will be an important meeting in developing the strong and close relationship between the UK and the Irish governments as we continue to work together on a range of issues."

Mr Harris added that he was looking forward to the "significant" meeting of the BIIGC and "continuing the intensive discussions with the secretary of state for Northern Ireland on the challenging but essential work of dealing with the legacy of the past".

What happened at the last meeting?

PA Media Micheál Martin and Hilary Benn smile off camera as they stand behind separate podiums. Mr Martin is wearing a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie and Mr Benn is wearing a dark suit, dark jumper, blue shirt and red tie. The Union Jack and Irish flags are hanging behind them.PA Media
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin and Secretary of State Hilary Benn attending the last BIIGC conference in December

The last BIIGC meeting, which was held in Dublin in December 2024, was overshadowed by the Irish general election.

During the meeting, British and Irish government ministers discussed a range of issues including the Troubles Legacy Act, the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and protecting the Common Travel Area.

It was the first BIIGC attended by Mr Benn since he became Northern Ireland secretary in July, after Labour won the UK general election.

What is the BIIGC?

It was designed to replace the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council (AIIC) and the Intergovernmental Conference, which was established under the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.

The BIIGC aims to promote bilateral co-operation on matters of mutual interest between the British and Irish Governments, including issues in relation to Northern Ireland.

The last time the meeting was held in Northern Ireland was at Hillsborough Castle in 2006, before another was held in Dundalk, County Louth, 2007.

No meetings of the BIIGC took place between 2008 and 2017, but it reconvened in 2018 following pressure on the then-Conservative government by Sinn Féin and the Irish government.

Since then, the meeting has alternated between London and Dublin.