British–Irish Council facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
British–Irish Council

Comhairle na Breataine–na hÉireann
Logo of the British–Irish Council
Heads of government meet in Glasgow for the 26th council summit
Abbreviation	BIC
Formation	2 December 1999; 25 years ago (1999-12-02)
Type	Intergovernmental organisation
Headquarters	Edinburgh, Scotland (secretariat)
Region served	British Isles
Membership

The British–Irish Council (BIC) is a special group that helps different governments work together. It includes Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It also includes the governments of Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.

The main goal of the BIC is to improve teamwork between these places. They work on many topics like transport, protecting the environment, and energy. The council was officially started on 2 December 1999. Its main office, called the secretariat, is in Edinburgh, Scotland.

How the Council Works

The leaders from the nine governments meet twice a year at special meetings called summits. There are also regular meetings for specific topics. These meetings are attended by the ministers who are in charge of those areas.

Each member of the council follows the rules of their own government. This means they act according to what their elected lawmakers decide.

England does not have its own separate government like Scotland or Wales. So, England is part of the council only as a member of the United Kingdom. Cornwall also has a special role because of its language. It is represented by the UK government.

The members of the council share the costs of its work. In 2012, a permanent office was set up in Edinburgh. This office helps the council with its daily tasks. The council also works closely with the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. This group includes lawmakers from the same areas as the council members.

What the Council Does

The council chooses specific areas to work on together. Each member takes responsibility for one or more of these areas. When the council first started, they talked about things like transport, farming, and the environment. They also discussed culture, health, and education.

The council can add new work areas or remove old ones. They make decisions by agreeing together. However, if a member does not want to join a specific project, they do not have to.

Here are some of the current work areas and who is in charge:

In 2006, Scotland suggested that "population changes" become a work area. They also took charge of it. Later, in 2007, Scotland proposed that "energy" also become a work area. In the past, the council worked on topics like the knowledge economy and tourism.

Who are the Members?

The British–Irish Council has nine full members. These include two independent countries and seven other governments.

Member name	Symbols	Parliament	Membership status	Represented since
United Kingdom		Parliament of the United Kingdom	Sovereign state	1999
Ireland		Oireachtas	Sovereign state	1999
Scotland		Scottish Parliament	Devolved government	1999
Wales		Senedd	Devolved government	1999
Northern Ireland	None None	Northern Ireland Assembly	Devolved government	1999
Jersey		States Assembly	Crown dependency	1999
Isle of Man		Tynwald	Crown dependency	1999
Guernsey		States of Guernsey	Crown dependency	1999

Cornwall is an advisor to the council, especially on matters related to the Cornish language.

Current Leaders of Member Governments

The leaders who attend the council meetings are the heads of their governments. Here are some of the current leaders:

Member Government	Representative(s)	Title
United Kingdom	Rishi Sunak	Prime Minister
Ireland	Simon Harris	Taoiseach
Scotland	John Swinney	First Minister
Wales	Vaughan Gething	First Minister
Northern Ireland	Michelle O'Neill	First Minister
	Emma Little-Pengelly	Deputy First Minister
Jersey	Lyndon Farnham	Chief Minister
Isle of Man	Alfred Cannan	Chief Minister
Guernsey	Lyndon Trott	P&RC President

Why the Name "British–Irish Council"?

When the council was first planned, people suggested names like "Council of the British Isles." However, the term "British Isles" can be sensitive, especially in Ireland. So, they agreed on the name British–Irish Council to make sure everyone felt comfortable.

The council's name is also used in many local languages of the member areas:

Council Summits

The leaders of the British–Irish Council meet regularly at "summits." These are important meetings where they discuss shared issues and make decisions. The host of the summit changes each time, with different member governments taking turns.

Images for kids

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  A British-Irish Council summit hosted by Scotland at Stirling Castle

See also

• Council of Ireland
• North/South Ministerial Council
• British–Irish Intergovernmental Conference
• British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly
• Interparliamentary Forum
• East–West Council