British-Irish conference to meet for first time since 2007

A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference will take place next month, it has been announced.

The two Governments have agreed to meet in London on 25 July.

The controversial peace process body hasn’t met since 2007, but is set to be revived amid efforts to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said: "This is an important Good Friday Agreement structure for dialog and consultation and will have an agenda dealing with East/West and NI issues."

A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said: "As the BIIGC is 'concerned with non-devolved Northern Ireland matters', the focus of the meeting will be on east-west issues.

"It will take place in London and be chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in attendance."

Sinn Féin and the SDLP have long been calling for the re-establishment of the conference as a way to get the political process moving again.

Some unionists have been wary of the conference, amid concerns of handing too much influence to the Dublin government.

DUP MP Nigel Dodds said: "We strongly value a good British-Irish relationship but our constituents really want to see a working Assembly and Executive.

"They want to see decisions made about their broadband, roads, schools and hospitals. The BIIGC has no power to take decisions.

"Arlene Foster understandably described it as a 'talking shop'."

Meanwhile the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: "I would ask both the British and Irish governments to do all they can to ensure this conference clears the way for a return of Stormont, to ensure we can get back to delivering for all of our people."