BRITISH IRISH PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY (BIPA) TO CONVENE FOR 61st PLENARY

The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) will convene its 61st plenary in Westminster Hall on Monday 18 October.

UK and Irish Parliaments to meet to strengthen bi-lateral ties

• Inter-parliamentary BIPA to meet in Westminster to promote co-operation
• Brandon Lewis and Thomas Byrne to deliver key

WATCH LIVE on YouTube ∙ Morning Session from 9.30am ∙ Afternoon Session from 1.45pm

No physical public access to Plenary room.

The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) will convene its 61^st plenary in Westminster Hall on Monday 18 October.

UK Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Ireland's European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne will give keynote addresses as politicians from the UK legislatures, British dependencies and the Oireachtas assemble to strengthen the bilateral partnership. Labour Party leader Sir Kier Starmer and the UK's European Neighbourhood Minister Wendy Morton will also be among those addressing the assembly on Monday.

Established in 1990 and expanded in 2001 to include Members of the Senedd (then the Welsh Assembly), Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly, BIPA provides a forum for discussion of issues affecting relations and a means to improve mutual understanding. The body meets twice a year, alternating venues between the UK and Ireland.

BIPA Committees also conduct regular research and publish reports at plenary events on areas of mutual interest. Last month, its European Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into each country's respective vaccine rollouts.

With COVID now hopefully in the rearview mirror, it's time to turn our attention to the many other issues that face our country, including strengthening our relationships with international partners. There is no partner more important to Britain than Ireland and I'm proud to play a role in helping to strengthen our historic ties."

Irish Co-Chair Brendan Smith TD commented, "The Irish members of BIPA look forward to and welcome the opportunity to meet with our closest neighbours, counterparts and parliamentary colleagues for discussion and debate.
Welcoming the chance to have an in-person meeting, my colleagues and I look forward to discussing the very important topics on the programme agenda and we hope that the 61st Plenary will afford us the chance to engage in this valuable forum discussing matters of mutual interest and concern."

Expected Keynote Speaker Timings

09.35 am: Address by Wendy Morton MP, Minister for European Neighbourhood and the Americas, UK Government

10.15 am: Address by Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for European Affairs, Government of Ireland

11.00 am: Address by Rt Hon. Brandon Lewis, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, UK Government

11.50 am: Address by Sir Kier Starmer MP, Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition.

 

Follow us on Twitter for updates: @BritishIrishPA

 

Further information contact:

London: Tim West: +44 (0)7933 386 949 westtb@parliament.uk

DUBLIN: JASON KIERNAN (+353) (0) 86 701 5235 JASON.KIERNAN@OIREACHTAS.IE

 

Editor's Notes

For more on BIPA, see here.

The Assembly's mission is to promote co-operation between political representatives in Britain and Ireland for the benefit of the people we represent. We want to build on the close relationships established in recent years between politicians throughout Britain and Ireland.