British & Irish Parliamentarians receive updates on Northern Ireland talks & British negotiations with Europe

British & Irish Parliamentarians receive updates on Northern Ireland talks & British negotiations with Europe

16th November 2015

There are hopes that this week will see a successful conclusion to the ongoing talks in Northern Ireland, Ben Wallace MP Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, told the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) this morning.

Mr Wallace attended the 51st BIPA Plenary in the place of Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, who remains at Stormont, and updated members on the negotiations.

Members of the Assembly expressed their support for a positive resolution and reiterated their commitment to co-operation between Britain and Ireland for the benefit of the peoples represented by the Assembly.

Minister for Europe, David Lidington MP, also addressed the Plenary and outlined some of the Prime Minister’s priorities as he negotiates the terms of the UK’s membership. Mr Lidington outlined how the UK Government foresees future political integration and suggested measures fiscal union stability can be achieved, while also ensuring the integrity of a single market and the integrity of 28 member states’ markets and institutions.

Horse racing is a sport in which Britain and Ireland share very close ties and this morning’s session also saw Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horseracing Ireland, and Nick Rust, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, address the Assembly.

The close cooperation between Irish and British racing and the fact that racing is a shared sport between both nations and the respective industries was highlighted, as was the transfer of skills over many generations. The future marketing of the sport as a key international tourism product was another key theme where both islands could come together in joint promotional campaigns.

ENDS/

Follow the BIPA twitter channel for updates: @BritishIrishPA

Media enquiries to:

Dublin: Nuala Walsh: +353 86 410 0898  nuala.walsh@oireachtas.ie                       
London: Jessica Bridges Palmer: +44 7917 488 489 bridgespalmerj@parliament.uk

About the Assembly
The Assembly's mission is to promote co-operation between political representatives in Britain and Ireland for the benefit of the people they represent. BIPA’s membership includes representatives from the UK Parliament, the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly, the High Court of Tynwald (Isle of Man) and the States of Guernsey and Jersey.