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British-Irish Council – Annual Report – 2012
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8. The members of the British-Irish Council, on a basis to be agreed between them, will
provide such financial support as it may require.
9. A Secretariat for the British-Irish Council will be provided by the British and Irish
Governments in co-ordination with officials of each of the other members.
10. In addition to the structures provided for under this agreement, it will be open to two
or more members to develop bilateral or multilateral arrangements between them.
Such arrangements could include, subject to the agreement of the members concerned,
mechanisms to enable consultation, co-operation and joint decision-making on matters
of mutual interest; and mechanisms to implement any joint decisions they may reach.
These arrangements will not require the prior approval of the British-Irish Council as a
whole and will operate independently of it.
11. The elected institutions of the members will be encouraged to develop
inter-parliamentary links, perhaps building on the British-Irish Inter-parliamentary
Body.
12. The full membership of the British-Irish Council will keep under review the workings
after the Agreement comes into effect, and will contribute as appropriate to any review
of the overall political agreement arising from the multiparty negotiations.