Official Report 487KB pdf
09:15
Our second agenda item is consideration of an application for recognition of a proposed cross-party group on Ireland.
Due to a relevant interest, I recuse myself from this part of the committee meeting.
Steven Bonnar will remain at the table but will not take part in the discussions.
I welcome Patricia Gibson, who would be the convener of the proposed CPG on Ireland. I invite her to make some introductory remarks.
The cross-party group on Ireland has been proposed in recognition of a number of things, including, most significantly, the impact of the Irish diaspora on Scotland. Although the impact tends to be concentrated around the central belt, it is certainly not exclusive to that area. As a result, the influence of Irish culture on Scotland has been hugely significant, and it seems fitting for the Scottish Parliament to have a cross-party group on Ireland. If most MSPs go back far enough, they could probably find some Irish connection or other.
The cross-party group would seek to build on and recognise our close relationship with Ireland. The shortest crossing point between Scotland and Ireland is about 12 miles. We would seek to build on our friendship and relationship with Ireland and our shared links in history and culture. We would look at things such as our trading relationship with Ireland and how it could be developed, and we would recognise and seek to build on the importance of tourism, investment, education and, indeed, literature, because there is a Celtic cultural connection. The cross-party group wants to build on, develop and recognise those things across the Parliament.
I do not have to drive far from my home to see Ireland, and there are strong connections between Argyll and Bute and Ireland. You have made some important points. I will ask a quick question before I bring in anyone else who has a question. Would the CPG’s remit overlap with that of any other CPG in the Parliament?
I do not think so. I do not know whether I am right in thinking that there is a cross-party group on Europe—I fear that I am not able to say definitively whether there is—but there might be opportunities and scope for us to invite members of that group if we were having a discussion about Ireland, Scotland and the wider European agenda. That could be an opportunity for even further cross-party working.
I have one other question, which is to check that £500 or more of secretarial support per annum will not be provided to the CPG by either of the bodies that are listed as non-MSP members. If you have not checked that, there will be an opportunity, if the CPG is agreed to, for you to update your annual return with that information.
Brigid Whoriskey, the director of Envision Business Solutions, has offered to provide secretariat services to the CPG. She has extensive contacts with the Irish community across Scotland and very close contacts with the Consulate General of Ireland. We will also have the support of a parliamentary staffer as and when required, if that is permissible.
Do members have further questions?
I have a point to make about the paperwork. I notice that there is a convener, a deputy convener and a secretary, but there is no named contact.
That is my fault. There was a box on the sheet—I cannot see it just now—for a contact, and I intended to write the parliamentary staffer’s name in the box, but I omitted to do it. I meant to follow up to insert their name, but I have not. It is my fault, but it is covered.
As no other member has a question, I thank Patricia Gibson for attending the meeting. We will briefly pause to let her leave the room before we move to our next item. Members should be aware that we are not suspending the meeting and are still live on air.
Our third agenda item is consideration of whether we are minded to recognise the proposed CPG on Ireland. Do members agree to recognise the proposed CPG?
Members indicated agreement.
I briefly suspend the meeting to allow us to get set up for the next agenda item.
09:21
Meeting suspended.
09:23
On resuming—