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Simon Coveney and Charles Flanagan arriving at Whitehall. Yui Mok/PA Images

A British-Irish top-level meeting is happening for the first time in 11 years, but what is it about?

The meeting is supposed to be “regular and frequent”.

FOR THE FIRST time in 11 years, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference is meeting today.

The meeting is between both governments and holding it is a requirement under the Good Friday Agreement but what exactly does it do?

Here’s a quick guide.

What’s it about?

The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, let’s call it BIIC for short, is held in part recognition that the Irish government has “a special interest in Northern Ireland”.

The meeting is designed to include the Taoiseach and UK Prime Minister but, if they’re not in attendance, both governments must be represented by “appropriate ministers”.

Leo Varadkar and Theresa May are not in attendance at today’s BIIC, something that has been criticised by some including Fianna Fáil.

Leader Micheál Matin said he was “highly disappointed” that neither would be in attendance “given the scale and importance” of what’s to be discussed.

Ireland’s primary representatives at the meeting are Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan.

The UK government is being represented at the meeting by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley and the Minister for the Cabinet Office David Lidington.

Under the GFA, the meeting is supposed to be “regular and frequent” so the 11-year delay has been criticised.

Rights 

BIIC is supposed to discuss a whole range of things including issues around rights and justice, but among its primary focuses is the review the operations of the Northern Ireland institutions.

At the moment, these institutions are not operating since the collapse of power-sharing 18 months ago. This is therefore likely to dominate this particular meeting.

There have been calls from some quarters, including Sinn Féin, for both governments to take a more direct role in re-establishing the NI Executive. Party leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has said that she is hopeful this meeting can secure progress.

“This is a first step in the governments acting to resolve outstanding issues,” McDonald said yesterday.

The DUP is not enthusiastic about the meeting between both governments, however, describing it as “a talking shop”.

“The British Irish Intergovernmental Conference, has no decision-making power as clearly set out in the Belfast Agreement and will focus solely on non-devolved Northern Ireland matters,” Nigel Dodds MP said ahead of the meeting.

The DUP says that both governments should focus solely on non-devolved issues, i.e. issues that are not under the control of the executive.

Of those that are under the executive’s remit, rights issues surrounding the Irish language have been central to the stalemate between the DUP and several other parties.

It’s likely that the Irish language will be discussed during the BIIC meeting and the London-based branch of Conradh na Gaeilge today presented the British government with an open letter turning them to address the issue.

Of course, the elephant in the room during this particular BIIC meeting is the shadow of Brexit and the ongoing negotiations.

In his comments ahead of the meeting, Micheál Martin criticised the plan for the talk and said there appeared to be an attempt to keep Brexit issues “off the agenda”.

Coveney is certain to be asked about Brexit repeatedly during his time in London but it is unclear whether a joint press conference will be held involving the Irish and British sides.

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40 Comments
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    Mute Adrian
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    Jul 25th 2018, 12:47 PM

    Coveney and Flanagan, two of our waste of space politicians, more liabilities to the state than assets.

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jul 25th 2018, 1:09 PM

    @Adrian: Thank god we have people like you in the country to pick up the slack

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    Mute Judean
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    Jul 25th 2018, 1:29 PM

    @Adrian: the British-Irish Council meets much more regularly and covers much the same issues.

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    Mute Niall Quinlan
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    Jul 25th 2018, 1:29 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: Adrian is not a paid public servant with a mandate to represent the citizens of Ireland with fairness and equality. The two numpties he mentioned are and by God they failing miserably. Do Fine Gael think homelessness is fake news?

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    Mute Ooby Dooby
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    Jul 25th 2018, 1:31 PM

    @Adrian: And who do you think are the good politicians Adrian?

    23
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    Mute Patrick O Connell
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    Jul 25th 2018, 3:31 PM

    @Adrian: and who are the politicians that are NOT a waste of space.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jul 25th 2018, 4:11 PM

    @Ooby Dooby: I think ye are asking the wrong question. The question should be what type of politician do we want? Do we want politicians to get elected because their daddy was a politician, or do we want politicians who are qualified, experienced and have shown a proven track record of being able to do the job?

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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Jul 25th 2018, 4:43 PM

    @Judean: That’s exactly what I thought. The article confused me a little.

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    Mute JesusMoreBullshit
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    Jul 25th 2018, 5:22 PM

    @Adrian: How do you become qualified and experienced as a politician without been a TD or Senator ?

    5
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    Mute Adrian
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    Jul 25th 2018, 5:54 PM

    @JesusMoreBullshit: there’s a lot of experience that people can bring to politics from working in the private sector. I’d say they learn very little quality skills from being a councillor and then a senator that prepares them to be TDs, as opposed to coming into politics from, say a high level job in the private sector where they would hopefully have a few years experience in management and leadership. Their incompetence and lack of solid experience shows. Prime example is Harris in health, he’s a pure amateur in that rule, you can see he doesn’t have a clue.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jul 25th 2018, 6:21 PM

    @JesusMoreBullshit: haha. Just looked up Flanagan’s father on wikipedia. Oliver flanagan. He was “one of the cutest of cute hoors in the history of the dail”. Gombeen politics at its best, I’d say!

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Jul 25th 2018, 7:37 PM

    @Adrian: Thats one major problem within Irish politics, Dail seats might as well have brass plaques engraved with the surnames of political dynasties. Keeping it in the family is bad for democracy and usually results in lower calibre politicians.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jul 26th 2018, 1:42 AM

    @Adrian: Ah the private sector the saviour of all government like in the US right now. Business and politics are two different things. Look at how many failed politicians have been supposed successful business people. Hell why not hand it over to IBEC and get it all together

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    Mute Ann Experiment
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    Jul 25th 2018, 12:49 PM

    Aren’t the DUP gas altogether.

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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Jul 25th 2018, 1:10 PM

    @Ann Experiment: i think they think they are the UK?

    37
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    Mute Dunn
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    Jul 25th 2018, 2:43 PM

    @WoodlandBard: well if their geography is anything like that of the inhabitants of the mainland UK…..

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    Mute Cathal
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    Jul 26th 2018, 1:04 AM

    @Dunn: if they’d organised it a week ago, Paisley Jnr could have arranged to have it in Sri Lanka and get a free holiday for them all

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    Mute Joseph Dempsey
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    Jul 25th 2018, 1:13 PM

    Just tried to watch these gombeens being interviewed without cringing live on the BBC, god almighty, is this really the best we can come up with, representing the nation abroad, Flanagan just stood there in a daze, not even sure if he knew where he was

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    Mute Trevor Hayden
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    Jul 25th 2018, 12:47 PM

    What they can sell to keep them in the style and pensions that they have become accustomed to.
    All the while putting a spin on it to assure the taxpayer they are not being screwed.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jul 25th 2018, 12:53 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: i think the irish politicians biggest assets are their pensions, primarily made up of UK assets! When the brexit result was announced, the Irish gov had an emergency meeting, and top of the agenda was pensions!

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    Mute Adrian
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    Jul 25th 2018, 12:59 PM

    When politics doesn’t work out for the British politicians, they resign because they have established careers outside of politics to fall back on as well as being wealthy in their own right. Our incompetent irish politicians can’t resign because they have nothing else, no skills in anything else and not much to bring to politics either.

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Jul 25th 2018, 4:52 PM

    @Adrian: Some of them go into politics after failing in business or set up businesses after their political career and fail miserably. Regina Doherty walked away from huge debts when her business failed and is now a Minister with FG while Ivan Yates done it the other way around. We need people who have a real hunger to make Ireland a great country to live, work and do business in not self serving trough dwellers.

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    Mute gowfc@yahoo.com W
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    Jul 25th 2018, 12:44 PM

    Agenda: Brexit and border.

    Where’s the Brexit minister? Missing!

    47
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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Jul 25th 2018, 1:17 PM

    @gowfc@yahoo.com W: The agenda is specifically NOT about Brexit. That’s why.

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    Mute Lynda Ní Mhurchú
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    Jul 25th 2018, 12:47 PM

    It seems disrespectful to have had no meeting in 11 years; who stood in its way?

    And what is this piffle about being forced to learn Irish, doing the rounds in NI?
    Are the Welsh forced to learn Welsh in Wales?

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    Mute Tír Eoghain Gael
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    Jul 25th 2018, 12:50 PM

    @Lynda Ní Mhurchú: Who stood in it’s way? The DUP. Who is responsible for peddling the myth that people would be forced to learn Irish? The DUP.

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    Mute Harry Whitehead
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    Jul 25th 2018, 4:48 PM

    @Lynda Ní Mhurchú: It’s a mandatory subject in Welsh schools. Mind you, the Daily Heil and thd irate middle class parents who read it would have you believe the kids are forced to sit watching Pobol Y Cwm with their eyelids hooked open, Clockwork Orange style.

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    Mute leartius
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    Jul 25th 2018, 1:10 PM

    Its amazing how many things both Fianna Fail and DUP agree on. Maybe FF should join the DUP instead of destroying SDLP chances in any future NI election.
    Even if Simon Coveney and Charlie Flanagan are below average politicians it seems about even on the British side. Altleast Karen Bradley is a author, which is exciting. I have never read ‘My Life as a Casino Games Dealer and What Kept Me Sane: Blackjack and Puppy Love’ but her ‘No.1 Beard Colouring Book’ would keep the Irish side entertained in any discussions. David Lidington might share some tips on expenses, who am I kidding he’s only above average compared to his Irish counterparts. Without Leo, Theresa and Mary Lou its nothing more than a photo opt, big feed and handshakes on a beautiful day.

    31
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    Mute Drive for show & putt for dough
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    Jul 25th 2018, 3:13 PM

    Free holiday for everyone to Sri Lanka after the meeting thanks to the DUP

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    Mute W Kevin Doyle
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    Jul 25th 2018, 3:42 PM

    @Drive for show & putt for dough: nah, acertain Mr Paisley has ruined it for everyone…

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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Jul 25th 2018, 1:30 PM

    Why hasn’t this meeting included the DUP and Sinn Fein after all no matter what has to be done can only be done by both party’s a waste of a meeting.

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    Mute Jay Coleman
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    Jul 25th 2018, 2:03 PM

    @Donal Carey: probably because they’ve done sodall the last year so it’s the big boys we need now to get things done.

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    Mute Ger Murphy
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    Jul 25th 2018, 2:10 PM

    @Donal Carey: Because they are both too busy with their Parliament work, O Wait… There are enough wasters in the meeting without adding 2 more!!

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    Mute W Kevin Doyle
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    Jul 25th 2018, 3:34 PM

    @Donal Carey: err? Isn’t there a big fancy house up there called Stormont, where they could meet, any old time they got the urge?

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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Jul 25th 2018, 5:16 PM

    @Jay Coleman: DUP have done nothing except avoid power sharing . Ash for Cash , Ian Paisley is a disgrace and should resign but all DUP want is 100 % power .

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    Mute ted hagan
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    Jul 25th 2018, 9:15 PM

    @Donal Carey:
    Cash for Ash perhaps?.

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    Mute Keith mac suibhne
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    Jul 25th 2018, 9:39 PM

    As long as the sectarian DUP/UDA pull the british goverments strings talk is all it will be.

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    Mute Julian Dowling
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    Jul 26th 2018, 11:43 AM

    Welcome to the capital of the British Isles.

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    Mute John Blessing
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    Jul 26th 2018, 3:14 PM

    Bilderberg.

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    Mute Liam Curran
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    Jul 26th 2018, 4:42 PM

    Tweedle dee and
    Tweedle dumb.

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