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British-Irish Council – Annual Report – 2012
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The Secretariat became operational on 4th January 2012 based in offices in Edinburgh.
The Secretariat is jointly staffed by officials on temporary assignment from Member
Administrations and comprises the UK and Irish Government Joint Heads, three Policy
Officers and an Office Manager.
Functions
The Secretariat has a cross-cutting function, which includes:
• Supporting individual Work Sectors through preparing or commissioning relevant papers,
taking minutes, advising on procedures, communications activities and providing logistical
support where needed.
• Supporting host Member Administrations in preparations for the biannual Summits
through commissioning or preparing relevant papers, taking minutes, advising on
procedures, communications activities, drafting communiqués and providing logistical
support.
Secretariat
The 2006 St Andrews Agreement stated that: “Following consultation with its
other members, and with a view to giving further impetus to its work, the two
Governments would facilitate the establishment of a Standing Secretariat for the
British-Irish Council.” The decision to set up a Secretaritat in Edinburgh was taken
at the Guernsey Summit in 2010.
British-Irish Council Secretariat