§ The Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister led the UK delegation to the sixth summit of the British-Irish Council and was accompanied by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office and myself.
The council noted the ongoing engagement between the British and Irish Governments and the parties in Northern Ireland and looked forward to the restoration of the devolved institutions, established under the Good Friday agreement, as soon as possible.
The main issue for discussion was tourism, and the council has agreed a programme to take forward joint working in this area. I have placed a copy of the communiqué in the House of Lords Library.