British-Irish conference meeting set for NI for first time since 2006

A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) will take place in Northern Ireland later for the first time in almost two decades.

The BIIGC was set up under the Good Friday Agreement and meets twice a year.

It last met in Dublin in December, just after the Irish general election was held.

Secretary of State Hilary Benn will host Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Harris and Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.

The BIIGC has not taken place in Northern Ireland since 2006.

Ministers are expected to discuss a range of issues including legacy, given the ongoing move by Labour to repeal the NI legacy act.

The purpose of the BIIGC is “to bring together the British and Irish governments to promote cooperation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of both governments”.

A joint release from both governments issued ahead of Thursday’s meeting stated that the meeting would involve discussion about “ongoing efforts to find a way forward regarding the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland”.

The conference will also cover political stability, security, and other areas of bilateral cooperation.

It follows the UK-Ireland summit last month, where the two governments pledged to work closely to deliver security, investment and growth.

Mr Benn said: “This will be an important meeting in developing the strong and close relationship between the UK and the Irish governments as we continue to work together on a range of issues.”

Mr Harris added that he was looking forward to the “significant” meeting of the BIIGC and “continuing the intensive discussions with the secretary of state for Northern Ireland on the challenging but essential work of dealing with the legacy of the past”.

The last BIIGC meeting, which was held in Dublin in December 2024, was overshadowed by the Irish general election.

During the meeting, British and Irish government ministers discussed a range of issues including the Troubles Legacy Act, the Omagh Bombing Inquiry and protecting the Common Travel Area.

It was the first BIIGC attended by Mr Benn since he became Northern Ireland secretary in July, after Labour won the UK general election.

It was designed to replace the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council (AIIC) and the Intergovernmental Conference, which was established under the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.

The BIIGC aims to promote bilateral co-operation on matters of mutual interest between the British and Irish Governments, including issues in relation to Northern Ireland.

The last time the meeting was held in Northern Ireland was at Hillsborough Castle in 2006, before another was held in Dundalk, County Louth, 2007.

No meetings of the BIIGC took place between 2008 and 2017, but it reconvened in 2018 following pressure on the then-Conservative government by Sinn Féin and the Irish government.

Since then, the meeting has alternated between London and Dublin.