British–Irish Intergovernmental Conference
The British–Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) is an intergovernmental organisation established by the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom under the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. It first met in London in 1999, and the latest meeting took place at Farmleigh House in Dublin on 19 January 2023.
| Abbreviation | BIIGC |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference |
| Formation | 17 December 1999 |
| Type | IGO |
| Legal status | British–Irish Agreement |
| Headquarters | Belfast, Northern Ireland1 |
| Coordinates | 54°35′42″N 5°55′53″W |
Region served | United Kingdom and Ireland |
Membership | Ireland United Kingdom |
| Remarks | 1 This is the location of the Joint Secretariat of the British–Irish Intergovernmental Conference. |
| Strand 1 |
|---|
| Strand 2 |
| Strand 3 |
| Additional bodies |
When the Northern Ireland Assembly is suspended, devolved matters revert to the BIIGC's remit. The BIIGC guarantees the Government of Ireland a say in areas of bilateral co-operation and on those matters not yet devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly or the North/South Ministerial Council.
The BIIGC is normally chaired by the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Provision is made however for meetings at summit level, i.e. between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister, as required. Summit meetings of the BIIGC took place in 1999, 2005 and 2018. There is also provision under the Belfast Agreement for Members of the Legislative Assembly to be involved in the intergovernmental conference but they do not have the power to block decisions taken by the two governments.