Everything about British-irish Council totally explained
The
British–Irish Council (
BIC) is a body created by the
Belfast Agreement in 1998, and formally established on
2 December 1999 on the entry into force of the consequent legislation. Its membership includes representatives from the governments of
Ireland; the
United Kingdom and three of its
constituent countries:
Northern Ireland,
Scotland and
Wales; and the three
Crown dependencies:
Guernsey,
Jersey and the
Isle of Man. Its stated aim is to "promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relationships among the peoples of these islands". The Council is often referred to as the
Council of the Isles or
Council of the British Isles, names that were put forward when the Council was originally conceived, but it doesn't use this name officially. Due to the constitutional status of
England, which doesn't have a
devolved government, it isn't represented on the Council as a separate entity.. Should that change, provisions exist that would allow England to be represented in future.
Membership and operation
Membership of the Council consists of the following governments (with current
head of government, as of July 2007):
The council meets in two formats. The 8 heads of government meet in two Council
summits per year. Additionally, there are regular meetings that deal with specific sectors of discussion and are attended by the corresponding ministers. The work of the Council is financed by members through mutual agreement as required, and a secretariat is provided by the UK and Irish governments in co-ordination with officials of each of the other members. Representatives of members will operate in accordance with whatever procedures for democratic authority and accountability are in force in their respective elected
legislatures.
At the ninth meeting of the Council, it was decided that with devolved government returned to Northern Ireland that an opportune time existed "to undertake a strategic review of the Council’s work programmes, working methods and support arrangements." This decision including the potential for a permanent standing secretariat. It was agreed that this review should return its results as soon as possible.
Work areas
The council agrees to specific work areas for which individual members take responsibility. The Belfast Agreement suggested transport links, agriculture, environmental issues, culture, health, education and approaches to the
European Union as suitable topics for early discussion. These work areas can be expanded or reduced as the Council decides. It is also open to the Council to make agreement on common policies. These agreements are made through consensus, although individual members may opt not to participate in implementing these. The current list of work areas and the member responsible are:
Demography was adopted as a work area at the 2006 meeting of the Council. It was proposed by the
Scottish Executive, who also took responsibility for it. During the 2007 meeting of the Council the Scottish Government further proposed that
energy become a work area of the Council and offered again to lead the area. No decision will be reached on whether to add energy as a work area or who should take responsibility for it until after the strategic review returned its findings.
Name of the Council
The Council is popularly known as the Council of the Isles or sometimes as the Council of the British Isles or the British Isles Council. Particularly in
Northern Ireland, which of these names is used signifies whether a speaker is
nationalist or
unionist as the term
British Isles can be
interpreted as being politically loaded, especially in
Ireland. As
Peter Robinson, a unionist politician, described, "A council of the British Isles — or a council of the Isles, I suppose, depending on which side of the room one is sitting."
In represented minority and lesser-used languages the council is known as:
Guernésiais: Conseil Britannique-Irlàndais
Irish: Comhairle na Breataine-na hÉireann
Jèrriais:
Manx: Coonceil Ghoaldagh-Yernagh
Scottish Gaelic: Comhairle Bhreatainn-Èirinn
Ulster Scots: Britisch-Airisch Cooncil
Welsh: Cyngor Prydain-IwerddonFurther Information
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