Tag: British-Irish Council

Swinney welcomes political leaders as British-Irish Council meets in Edinburgh

First Minister John Swinney will welcome political leaders to Scotland today as he hosts the 42nd Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council.

The First Minister will hold talks with the UK Prime Minister, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, Prif Weinidog Cymru (the First Minister of Wales), the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, the Chief Minister of Jersey and the Chief Minister of Guernsey.

This main focus of the summit – which marks the 25th anniversary of the first meeting of the British-Irish Council – will see leaders gather for substantive talks on financing a just transition and tackling climate change.

First Minister John Swinney said last night: “Scotland will welcome political leaders to our capital city as we gather for the 42nd Summit of the British-Irish Council – a meeting which also marks 25 years since the first council was held following the Good Friday Agreement.

“As we reflect on 25 years, it is testament to the value of the British-Irish Council that the partnership conceived a quarter of a century ago has prevailed in the midst of unprecedented change and challenge.

“The meeting in Edinburgh provides a forum for us to discuss the greatest challenge facing the next 25 years that of climate change and delivering a just transition. The need to share our knowledge, our efforts and our actions is no less urgent today than it was when the first British-Irish Council meeting was held in 1999.

“As First Minister of Scotland, achieving a just transition is integral to the four main priorities of my government. Scotland needs to attract investment to tackle climate change and grasp the opportunities of that journey to Net Zero in a way that grows our economy and helps provide investment to tackle child poverty and improve public services.”

The Summit will be attended by political leaders from the BIC’s eight Member Administrations and will focus on the theme of ‘Financing a Just Transition’. Leaders will also discuss topical political developments.

This will be the sixth Summit hosted by the Scottish Government. The last was in November 2020 and was virtual owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Previous BIC Summits hosted by the Scottish Government have taken place in Glasgow (June 2016), Stirling (June 2012), South Queensferry (September 2008) and New Lanark (November 2002).

This Summit in Edinburgh will also mark the 25th anniversary of the very first BIC Summit, which took place at Lancaster House in London in December 1999.

Home | The British Irish Council

The British-Irish Council was formally established following the Good Friday Agreement and brings together political leaders from the Northern Ireland Executive, the Government of Ireland, the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, the Isle of Man Government, the Government of Jersey, and the Government of Guernsey.

The following political leaders are attending the 42nd meeting of the British Irish Council in Edinburgh:

Scottish GovernmentRt. Hon. John Swinney MSP, First Minister 
Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister 
Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs & Culture (Thursday only) 
UK GovernmentRt. Hon. Sir Keir Starmer MP, Prime Minister
Rt. Hon. Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP, SoS NI (Thursday only) 
Government of Ireland Simon Harris TD, Taoiseach 
Micheál Martin TD, Tánaiste  
Welsh GovernmentRt. Hon. Eluned Morgan, Prif Weinidog Cymru (First Minister of Wales) 
Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning 
Northern Ireland ExecutiveMichelle O’Neill MLA, First Minister 
Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, deputy First Minister 
Minister Conor Murphy MLA, Minister for the Economy  
Minister Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs 
Isle of Man GovernmentAlfred Cannan, Chief Minister 
Government of Jersey Deputy Lyndon Farnham, Chief Minister 
Deputy Ian Gorst, Minister for External Relations  
Government of Guernsey Deputy Lyndon Trott, Chief Minister 

Edinburgh to host 42nd British-Irish Council

Capital meeting will mark 25th anniversary of BIC  

The Scottish Government will host the 42nd Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Edinburgh on 5 and 6 December, First Minister John Swinney has confirmed.

The British-Irish Council was formally established following the Good Friday Agreement. It brings together leaders from the Northern Ireland Executive, the Government of Ireland, the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, the Isle of Man Government, the Government of Jersey, and the Government of Guernsey.

The meeting in Edinburgh marks the 25th anniversary of the first BIC which was held in London in 1999.

With a focus on financing a just transition, the First Minister said this Summit provides a forum for leaders to work collaboratively on tackling climate change and delivering real progress towards action that will help protect the planet.

First Minister John Swinney said: “I am pleased to confirm Scotland will host the 42nd Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Edinburgh – a meeting which marks the 25th anniversary of the first Summit which took place in December 1999 following the Good Friday Agreement.

“Since that first meeting, politics across our nations – and the issues that we have each faced – have changed significantly however the principles underpinning the British-Irish Council remain as important now as they did 25 years ago.

“In this anniversary year, I hope our meeting in Edinburgh will encourage and enhance a shared desire to work collaboratively on the big issues facing people.

“One of the biggest issues facing us all is of course climate change and this Summit’s theme of financing a just transition is a critical example of how governments must work together in recognition of the challenges we have to overcome, whilst seizing shared opportunities for the future.”

The 42nd Summit of the British-Irish Council (BIC) will take place on Thursday 5 December and Friday 6 December 2024, marking the 25th anniversary of the first Summit which was held in London in December 1999.

This will be the sixth time the BIC Summit has been held in Scotland.

The Scottish Government last hosted an in-person Summit in June 2016, in Glasgow. In November 2020, it hosted a Summit virtually.