09 November 2017
The Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, has released the following statement in advance of the 29th British-Irish Council Summit meeting, which will be held in Jersey this week.
"The British-Irish Council was formed in 1998 as a direct result of the Good Friday Agreement, to promote positive, practical relationships among its members, and to provide a forum for consultation and co-operation. It was a bold and inclusive initiative, as the first council of its kind to include the leaders of sovereign governments, devolved institutions and the crown dependencies.
This bi-annual summit provides a unique opportunity for representatives of the member administrations to have open, constructive dialogue, across a range of topics, whilst reinforcing the strong inter-governmental relationships built across the last 20 years. The summit will provide an opportunity for Council members to discuss a number of important matters, including the continued absence of a Northern Ireland Executive and the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union.
The British-Irish Council also allows member administrations to cooperate across twelve distinct work areas, and I am delighted that Jersey is the lead administration for the BIC Creative Industries work sector. The Island has developed a burgeoning creative industry and our Ministers and officials have been working closely with their counterparts in the member administrations to build initiatives for future collaboration. I hope visiting delegates will also enjoy seeing some of the creativity of Islanders, in the form of photography, song and poetry, during the Summit welcome dinner.
I look forward to welcoming members of the British-Irish Council to Jersey. I hope that they have a pleasant and productive time on the Island and enjoy the warmth of Jersey hospitality.”
gov.je