Stormont ministers attend BIC meeting
News Letter
26 September 2008
PETER Robinson and Martin McGuinness are attending a summit in Scotland, despite an underlying political crisis.
The First and Deputy First Ministers are taking part in a meeting of the British-Irish Council in Edinburgh.
It had been feared the gathering would have to be postponed as it is necessary for the power-sharing Executive to agree the meeting, but it has not met formally for over three months.
However, First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness agreed a special “urgent procedures” measure allowing ministers to approve the trip to Edinburgh and the agenda of the meeting at Hopetoun House, outside the Scottish capital.
The DUP and Sinn Fein are at loggerheads over the devolution of policing and justice powers, with the latter refusing to attend Executive meetings until the issue is resolved.
Leaders from Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic are expected to discuss setting up a permanent BIC secretariat in the UK.
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands