asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat has cost for each year since its creation. [HL2277]
The expenditure of the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat is met by the two Governments. The total costs to the British Government for the past six years are shown in the following table. Costs for 1999-01 are no longer held.
Financial Year BIIGS Costs 2001-02 £554,000 2002-03 £544,941 2003-04 £524,594 2004-05 £590,195 2005-06 £530,096 2006-07 £571,616
asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference has met since its creation; where each meeting was held; what was discussed at each meeting; and when is the next meeting. [HL2278]
The details of all British Irish Intergovernmental Conferences (BIIGC) are contained in the following table. Information on the discussions can be found within the official joint communiques, issued by the two Governments after every BIIGC. These communiques can be found on the NOI website at www.nio.gov.uk. A suitable date for the next BIIGC is currently being discussed with the Irish Government.
BIIGC Date Summit Level/Ministerial Level Location 17 December 1999 Summit Level No 10, London 22 October 2002 Ministerial Level Hillsborough Castle, Belfast 18 December 2002 Ministerial Level Farmleigh, Dublin 20 May 2003 Ministerial Level Lancaster House, London 2 July 2003 Ministerial Level Millbank, London 18 September 2003 Ministerial Level Iveagh House, Dublin 22 January 2004 Ministerial Level Farmleigh, Dublin 21 April 2004 Ministerial Level Millbank, London 7 July 2004 Ministerial Level Farmleigh, Dublin 15 December 2004 Ministerial Level Hillsborough Castle, Belfast 2 March 2005 Ministerial Level Iveagh House, Dublin 27 June 2005 Summit Level No 10, London 19 October 2005 Ministerial Level Iveagh House, Dublin 1 February 2006 Ministerial Level Millbank, London 2 May 2006 Ministerial Level Iveagh House, Dublin 25 July 2006 Ministerial Level Hillsborough Castle, Belfast 24 October 2006 Ministerial Level Iveagh House, Dublin 12 December 2006 Ministerial Level Millbank, London 26 February 2007 Ministerial Level Ballymascanlon Hotel, Dundalk
asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many members of staff the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat has; how they were recruited; by whom they were recruited; and what is the breakdown of their community background. [HL2279]
The British side of the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat (BIIGS) comprises of 12 members of staff employed by the Northern Ireland Office. The staff were recruited by the NIO under normal Civil Service (NICS/HCS) procedures and subsequently posted to the BIIGS under normal NIO posting policy. Data on the community background of NIO staff are held by the Northern Ireland Office or the NICS/Department of Finance and Personnel. The community background of NIO staff will not be disclosed, given the small number of staff involved.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
On what issues and occasions the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference has facilitated co-operation in security matters, as required by strand three, paragraph six of the Belfast agreement of 1998 (Cm 4705). [HL2292]
Security matters and co-operation have been regularly discussed at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conferences (BI IGC), both at ministerial and official level. Information on the discussions can be found within the official joint communiques, issued by the two Governments after every BIIGC and can be found on the NIO website at www.nio.gov.uk.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference has raised issues of human rights in the Republic of Ireland; and if not, why. [HL2293]
Human Rights issues have been discussed at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conferences (BIIGC), both at ministerial and official level. Information on the discussions can be found within the official joint communiques, issued by the two Governments after every BIIGC and can be found on the NIO website at www.nio.gov.uk.