Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to attend 44th British-Irish Council Summit in Wales

Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to attend 44th British-Irish Council Summit in Wales

• From: Department of the Taoiseach

• Published on: 5 December 2025
• Last updated on: 5 December 2025

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, will attend the 44th Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council (BIC) in Wales today (Friday).

The BIC is an institution established under the Good Friday Agreement. This summit will be hosted by First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan and attended by representatives of the Governments of all eight member administrations.

Discussions at the Summit will focus on approaches across the British Irish Council administrations on the theme of "A Creative Future: Unlocking the potential of the Creative Industries across these island". Discussions will have a particular focus on the screen sector. Leaders will also discuss wider political developments, including internationally.

In the margins of the Summit, the Taoiseach will have a number of bilateral meetings.

Speaking in advance of the Summit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

"I am very pleased to attend the British-Irish Council Summit in Wales today. These summits provide a welcome opportunity to build relationships and cooperation, and to share learnings with our nearest neighbours. Having positive relations across these islands matters to us all, and this summit is an opportunity to underline the importance of the Good Friday Institutions to maintaining that totality of relationships. It is also an opportunity to reflect on developments in the wider European and international context which affect all our jurisdictions."

Tánaiste Simon Harris said:

"I am delighted to be attending the British-Irish Council Summit. We are gathering at a time when the global economic landscape is marked by turbulence and unpredictability that can have real consequences. So in these uncertain times, it has never been more important for us to closely cooperate with our nearest neighbours. We have made real progress when it comes to the British-Irish relationship over the last 18 months, and we are committed to furthering these links in order to achieve tangible benefits for all our people."

Minister Helen McEntee said:

"I look forward to participating in today's British-Irish Council Summit hosted by Welsh First Minister, Eluned Morgan, my first as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. This Council maintains the deep and historic links across these Islands, allowing us to share experiences and benefit from each other's insights on matters of mutual interest. The BIC Summit is an important opportunity to learn about our creative industries and how they can support our prosperity."

Note for Editors

The British-Irish Council (BIC) is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1998 under Strand 3 of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Comprising the Government of Ireland and the UK Government, along with the devolved administrations of the United Kingdom, the Council aims to promote collaboration, dialogue, and cooperation on matters of mutual interest and shared concern. The BIC serves as a platform for discussing key issues and strengthening relationships between all participating administrations.

For further information on the British-Irish Council, visit the official BIC website.