§ Rev. Martin Smythasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the members of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council and of its subsidiary bodies; whether they receive any remuneration for these duties; and what qualifications they have for being appointed to this body or its subsidiaries.
§ Mr. RentonThe Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council was established to provide a flexible framework for meetings at Prime Ministerial, Ministerial and official104W level. The steering committee and the co-ordinating committee of the council are chaired by senior United Kingdom officials and their counterparts in the Republic of Ireland. The council is not permanently staffed but draws on the expertise of officials as appropriate to the subjects under discussion. As these discussions form part of their duties officials receive no additional remuneration.
§ Rev. Martin Smythasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent meetings between members of his Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ireland within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council.
§ Mr. RentonOfficials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office attended the last meeting of the co-ordinating committee of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council which took place on 14 September 1984 at which officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Irish Republic were also present. Discussions at the meeting mainly concerned preparations for the Anglo-Irish summit which was held on 19 November 1984. There are regular meetings between officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth office and those of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Irish Republic on a wide range of matters of mutual concern.