HC Deb 20 October 2003 vol 411 cc421-2W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many times the British-Irish Council has met since April 1998. [132092]

Mr. Leslie

The British-Irish Council has met on the following occasions since its inception in December 1999:

Summit Level

  • 17 December 1999;
  • 30 November 2001;
  • 14 June 2002; and
  • 22 November 2002.

Sectoral formats

  • 2 October 2000—BIC Environment Ministers;
  • 19 December 2000—BIC Transport Ministers;
  • 25 February 2002—BIC Environment Ministers;
  • 22 March 2002—BIC Drugs Ministers;
  • 16 January 2003—BIC Environment Ministers; and
  • 7 February 2003—BIC Drug Ministers.

The next British-Irish Summit is due to take place in November 2003, and a meeting of BIC Environment Ministers is due later this month. There have also been many official-level meetings and associated events, including seminars and conferences.