British Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) meets in London on 22 and 23 October for its 57th plenary

On Monday 22 October, the session will feature addresses by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP; Ambassador of Ireland to the UK, Adrian O’Neill; Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Tony Lloyd MP; Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Maria Miller MP. There will also be a debate on the progress of Brexit negotiations. This session will take place at the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel, Canary Wharf.

On Tuesday 23 October, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and Graham Stuart MP, Minister for Investment, Department for International Trade will address the Assembly. This session will take place in the Attlee Suite, House of Commons.

BIPA is formed of members of the Houses of the Oireachtas, Houses of Parliament, Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly, High Court of Tynwald (Isle of Man) and the States of Guernsey and Jersey. It meets twice a year to promote co-operation between political representatives in Britain and Ireland and build on the close relationships established in recent years.

Irish Co-Chair, Seán Crowe TD, said today: “This plenary comes at a crucial time in the Brexit negotiations and we particularly look forward to engaging with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley MP, and Tony Lloyd MP, the Shadow Secretary of State. Over the course of this plenary session, the Assembly will build on its work maintaining positive relations with our nearest neighbours and seek updates from Assembly Members as to the issues facing their jurisdictions. BIPA plays an important role in facilitating this and our members look forward to building on the progress made in British-Irish relations and we will continue to work in the best interest of all.”

British Co-Chair Andrew Rosindell MP also commented, “I welcome our friends from Ireland, the devolved Parliaments, Assemblies and Crown Dependencies of the UK to London for the 57th Plenary of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and am particularly looking forward to greeting them in my own constituency of Romford.

“As negotiations on Brexit continue, it is vital that the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly serve as a forum to facilitate dialogue to improve understanding between our nations, and investigate the mutual challenges that we face. I look forward to hearing the perspectives of Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Karen Bradley, Tony Lloyd and Ambassador of Ireland to the UK, Adrian O’Neill.  I fully expect robust debate on the issues they address, but a determination to keep our special British-Irish relationship close and strong, whatever the future holds.”

Media outlets are welcome to attend or send a representative to the plenary. Those attending are requested to contact George Perry (details below), for further information and accreditation.

House of Commons Press Office: George Perry + 0044 783 417 2099 / perryg@parliament.uk

Houses of the Oireachtas Press Office: Nuala Walsh +353 86 410 0898 / nuala.walsh@oireachtas.ie