Friday 27 November 2015
Guernsey's Chief Minister, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, and the Commerce and Employment Department Minister, Deputy Kevin Stewart, are meeting with political representatives from Ireland, the UK, the devolved administrations and the Crown Dependencies today at the 25th British-Irish Council Summit, hosted by the UK Government in London.
The Summit meeting takes place today, chaired by the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP. The Irish Taoiseach, the First Minister of Scotland, the First Minister and deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive, the First Minister of Wales, and the Chief Ministers of the Crown Dependencies will also be in attendance.
The primary themes of the Summit are economic growth and protecting natural capital. There will also be a discussion on the refugee crisis, and member administrations' responses to it.
Chief Minister, Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq commented:
"I am pleased to represent Guernsey at this 25th British-Irish Council Summit in London. These summits are invaluable for sharing information, and on this occasion it was also an opportunity to acknowledge the monumental challenges in the resettlement of refugees. It was also important and appropriate for the BIC family to formally offer condolences to the people of France following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris."
Commerce and Employment Minister, Deputy Kevin Stewart commented:
"It is important for Guernsey and its neighbours to discuss economic growth - we have much to learn from each other. The summit also provided an opportunity to emphasise the importance of our fishing industry, and its role in our economy as well as its contribution to a sustainable marine environment. We are continuing to promote our fishing industry's interests robustly."
