88. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade for a report on her attendance at the recent British-Irish Association annual conference. [69043/26]

I attended the annual British Irish Association conference in Oxford on 4 September which was held under Chatham House rules.

I was pleased to deliver opening remarks and to participate in an interactive question and answer session with participants. In my remarks, I spoke about how relations across these islands are being reshaped by the changes we are seeing in the international environment and the shared challenges these changes present us all.

I recalled the ambitious agenda for bilateral relations between the Irish and UK government, in the shape of the UK-Ireland Joint Statement.

I also spoke about our work to unlock the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement through the work of the North South bodies and through the Shared Island Initiative. I discussed the implementation of the Joint Framework on Legacy, which we agreed with the UK Government last year.

I am pleased that this year the BIA was once more designated as a Strategic Partner of the Reconciliation Fund which will provide funding of €50,000 per year for the next three years.

The BIA conference remains as an important event in the calendar of British-Irish relations which promotes mutual understanding and good relations between the people of our islands, and with a valuable focus on Northern Ireland.