HC Deb 19 January 2000 vol 342 cc470-1W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names of those who attended the inaugural meeting of the British-Irish Council, together with the names of their parliaments or assemblies; when and where the Council will next meet; and if he will make a statement. [105572]

The Prime Minister

The British-Irish Council, which was established under the Belfast Agreement, held its inaugural summit meeting in London on 17 December. The membership of the Council comprises the UK and Irish Governments, the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and the administrations in the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

I led the UK delegation and, as host, chaired the meeting. The remainder of the UK delegation consisted of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The other delegations were as follows: Ireland

  • the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD
  • the Tánaiste, Mary Harney TD
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Andrews TD
  • Minister for Justice, John O'Donoghue
Northern Ireland
  • First Minister, the right hon. David Trimble MLA MP
  • Deputy First Minister, Seamus Mallon MLA MP
  • Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey MLA
  • Minister for Finance and Personnel, Mark Durkan MLA
  • Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Bairbre de Brún MLA
 Scotland
  • First Minister, the right hon. Donald Dewar MSP MP
  • Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace MSP MP
  • Permanent Secretary at the Scottish executive, Muir Russell
 Wales
  • First Secretary, the right hon. Alun Michael JP AM MP
  • Assembly Business Secretary, Andrew Davies AM
  • Finance Secretary, Edwina Hart AM
 Isle of Man
  • Chief Minister, hon. Donald Gelling MHK
  • Chief Secretary, Fred Kissack
 Jersey
  • President, Policy and Resources Committee, Senator Pierre Horsfall
  • Chief Executive, Policy and Resources Committee, John Mills
 Guernsey
  • President, Advisory and Finance Committee, Conseiller Laurie Morgan
  • Chief Executive, Advisory and Finance Committee, Mike Brown.

The Council agreed that its next summit meeting should take place in Dublin at the end of June 2000.

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