§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who accompanied him when he officially met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ireland; what is the protocol governing such meetings; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PriorWhen I met Mr. Barry on 1 Febraury I was accompanied for part of the discussion by my noble Friend Lord Gowrie and supported by officials from my own Department and from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We were joined for lunch by my noble Friend Lord Belstead. No formal protocol governs such meetings.