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British-Irish Council: NI ministers attending Isle of Man summit | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and Secretary of State Theresa Villiers are attending a British-Irish Council summit in the Isle of Man on Friday. | |
The Irish prime minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny and leaders from Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey will also be present. | The Irish prime minister (Taoiseach) Enda Kenny and leaders from Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey will also be present. |
However, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson will not attend the meeting. | |
His place will be taken by the Finance Minister Simon Hamilton. | His place will be taken by the Finance Minister Simon Hamilton. |
Mr Robinson will not be attending the meeting, as an assembly investigation into him and his wife, Iris Robinson, is due to be published. | |
The first and deputy first ministers had been expected to meet Nicola Sturgeon for the first time since she became Scotland's first minister. | The first and deputy first ministers had been expected to meet Nicola Sturgeon for the first time since she became Scotland's first minister. |
A DUP source told the BBC that Mr Robinson had already spoken to Ms Sturgeon and has other engagements. | A DUP source told the BBC that Mr Robinson had already spoken to Ms Sturgeon and has other engagements. |
Economic growth and digital technology are among several issues expected to be discussed at the summit. | Economic growth and digital technology are among several issues expected to be discussed at the summit. |
There is also likely to be interest in the inter-party talks at Stormont, as the British and Irish governments compile progress reports on the state of the ongoing discussions. | There is also likely to be interest in the inter-party talks at Stormont, as the British and Irish governments compile progress reports on the state of the ongoing discussions. |
The British-Irish Council was established under the terms of the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998. | The British-Irish Council was established under the terms of the Good Friday peace agreement in 1998. |
It is the only forum which includes UK, Irish and crown dependency governments. | It is the only forum which includes UK, Irish and crown dependency governments. |