Debate contribution: British-Irish Council: Forty-third Summit

Debate contribution by Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly on 30 June 2025.

MLA

Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

30 June 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

British-Irish Council: Forty-third Summit

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5042732

Read the official Assembly record

Text

The forty-third summit of the British-Irish Council (BIC) took place on 13 June 2025 and was hosted by the Northern Ireland Executive. The First Minister and I co-chaired the summit plenary meeting, and we were accompanied by Ministers Givan, O'Dowd and Nesbitt and junior Ministers Reilly and Cameron. The Ministers have agreed that I make the statement on their behalf. The UK Government delegation was led by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP; the Irish Government delegation by the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD; the Scottish Government delegation by the First Minister, the Rt Hon John Swinney MSP; and the Welsh Government delegation by the First Minister, the Rt Hon Eluned Morgan MS. The Government of Guernsey were represented by the Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Trott; the Government of Jersey by the Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham; and the Isle of Man Government by the Chief Minister, Deputy Alfred Cannan MHK. A full list of the principal plenary attendees is attached to the statement, which has been provided to Members. The theme of the summit was the role of AI in reform and transformation. The plenary meeting commenced with a discussion about the importance of digital transformation and the strategic deployment of AI technologies, which offer unprecedented opportunities to modernise government, enhance service delivery and improve operational efficiency to build more agile public services. The council discussed the approaches that member Administrations are taking to harness AI technologies for public-sector reform and transformation across these islands. We took time to share knowledge and best practice, while identifying common challenges and how to make the most of shared opportunities. Administrations agreed on the need for a shared commitment to collaboration across these islands and stressed the significance of working closely with external partners, including academic institutions, SMEs and global investors. Such partnership working is key to fuelling innovation and growth and unlocking the opportunities that are offered by AI. The Executive Office's recently launched AI and digital office will boost and foster such partnerships and help us to consider how to integrate and promote public- and private-sector expertise so that we can realise the full potential of AI in transforming public services. Time was taken at the plenary meeting to consider the challenges associated with AI and the need to shape a future in which it serves the public effectively and, importantly, ethically. The adoption of AI technologies will require there to be appropriate governance measures that provide assurances to citizens and stakeholders on data-sharing and security. It is vital that we upskill our people in order to maximise the opportunities that are provided and, importantly, to bring them with us on the AI journey. AI should empower rather than replace and enhance rather than diminish the capabilities of all those in the workplace. All Administrations agree that AI must be handled correctly if it is to make public service more responsive, productive and aligned to people's real needs. Council members briefed colleagues on significant developments in their Administrations and reflected on a number of domestic and international topics of mutual interest. We took the opportunity to update attendees on the Executive's progress since the Council last met, which was in December of last year. We were pleased to advise members of our Programme for Government's being agreed, and we highlighted the biggest challenges that we face, including tackling hospital waiting times; childcare; affordable housing; growing the economy; and the transformation of public services. We expressed concern about the ongoing challenging fiscal situation, in spite of the spending review, and spoke of our ongoing commitment to seeking a fair and sustainable level of funding that reflects our relative need. In addition to that, we highlighted the impact that changes to welfare reform, inheritance tax and employers' National Insurance contributions have on our economy. We stated that we would continue to make our case to the UK Government for the reversal of decisions relating to those. The Council discussed international topics of mutual interest and recognised the fact that coming together in the spirit of partnership and cooperation at occasions such as the BIC summit is all the more important in the context of global developments. Finally, the Council noted that the next BIC summit will be hosted by the Welsh Government in late 2025.

The leader of the Opposition is embracing the last week of the Assembly term with his usual optimism and positivity. There was detail in the statement. There was a very extensive discussion about AI at the summit. There was clear consensus between all the Administrations that technological advances in AI are happening all around us and that AI, therefore, ought not to be ignored by Governments. It is important not only that we harness the potential of and opportunities presented by AI but that, as Governments, we are aware of the challenges associated with AI, particularly in relation to ethics and data. It was a really useful conversation. All the jurisdictions, nations and regions are having those conversations, and it makes a lot of sense for us to collaborate in this area, not only on the frameworks for an ethical approach but on how best to push forward with the use of AI technologies and the upskilling of people to make sure that we streamline and transform our public services. On the East-West Council, we are very clear on the framework for that. It is our responsibility to update the House on significant engagements, meetings and developments. That is why we will update the House on that key meeting in due course.

I thank the Member for her question. We looked at that matter in the broader sense, but there were a number of specific examples, and a number of the First Ministers and other contributors took the opportunity to highlight some of the engagement that they have had with AI, including in health. There is no doubt that there is opportunity in diagnostics. With the advances that are happening not just month by month but almost week by week, it makes absolute sense that we embrace those changes but do so in a way that provides security for the people who are subject to it, making sure that systems are reliable and that the people operating them are sufficiently trained and know what they are doing in interfacing with AI. While it can be a useful tool, for example in diagnostics, we want the human element in order to make sure that it is operating as it should. I have no doubt that the Health Minister will come forward with more ideas on that, but there was consensus around embracing the opportunities, particularly in relation to the big challenges that we face in health, education and other public services.

I thank the Member for her question. I have no doubt that she is aware that we never miss an opportunity to raise a long list of issues. There is Executive consensus on many of those issues, such as the funding pressures that we are under. We took the opportunity to raise directly with the Rt Hon Pat McFadden, whose role it is to coordinate the devolved regions and nations, our concerns about, for example, National Insurance contributions, the Budget, the spending review and our need for capital investment to enable us to grow. We also raised concerns about the impact of some of the announcements in recent Budget statements and events, such as the increase in employers' contributions and the impact that that is having on our economy, as well as the removal of relief on agricultural inheritance. We raised a wide range of issues. That is the value of these summits: the opportunity to have those bilaterals and talk about the specific issues. Discussions with the likes of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man were much more about collaboration on issues such as AI. For example, there were really good conversations about how the new digitisation programme in the health sector could, through shared learning, be rolled out to some of the smaller jurisdictions. There was really good engagement across the piece.

I thank the Member for his question. As I indicated, we discussed a number of examples of that in AERA and in the health and education sectors. There has also been an extensive roll-out of Microsoft Copilot on our computers. First of all, it is about reassurance. There is no doubt that AI can create efficiencies and increase productivity. That is not about threatening people's jobs; it is about making sure that people can be upskilled or redeployed into other areas of essential work in order to accelerate public-service transformation and the roll-out of better public services. The Member is absolutely right about the ethical approach, however. There are risks with AI, and I put on the record that we recognise that. We often talk about harnessing the opportunities of AI, but we cannot talk about that without recognising the risks. For example, concerns have been raised about the use of data: people taking the intellectual property of others and using it in their programs. It is really important — this was discussed at length at the meeting — to set out ethical frameworks for government before we go too extensively down the road of using and deploying AI across our public services. We want to reassure people that our use of AI is ethical, that their data is secured and, indeed, that what we are using is consistent and reliable.

I thank the Member for his question. He will know from his work that the issue extends much further than the British Isles. Every jurisdiction is looking at AI's potential. When it comes to how to use that potential, the Welsh Government's First Minister outlined some of the opportunities that are associated with Copilot and how those can be used. We absolutely want to collaborate. The Chief Scientific and Technology Adviser leads our task and finish group. Just a couple of weeks ago, we launched an office of AI and digital, but its work will be informed by Professor Helen's work through the task and finish group. I take the opportunity to pay tribute to the many experts in the field, many of whom are from the private sector, who are giving of their time freely to contribute to that work, which, we understand, will be extensive. It will form the basis of our strategy and the initial work of our office of AI and digital. It will also identify the opportunities and challenges that we need to overcome by rolling out real action.

I thank the Member for his question. He will be aware that there are a number of specified areas, but there is also the opportunity for flexibility. Particularly in the bilateral sessions and discussions, we find that the work goes wider than the formal themes. AI is a really good example of that. According to the specific list, we look at creative industries issues as they relate to health; education; early years; energy; indigenous, minority and lesser-used languages; drugs and alcohol; planning and places; social inclusion; transport; and housing. That is an extensive list of specific areas, but, as has been indicated in the many statements that we have made to the House, the work goes beyond that list. How AI opportunities can contribute to transformation is a good example of where we can learn about things above and beyond the specific list through collaborative working and building relationships.

I thank the Member for her question. It was an absolutely wonderful setting for the BIC summit. On the Thursday evening, we were hosting the pre-summit dinner, and it was very cloudy outside. The Mountains of Mourne sweeping down to the sea could not be seen at all. Fortunately, the clouds cleared, and the feedback was really positive. I thank the hotel and its staff for what was an excellent conference and summit. It was really professionally run, and we have written to the hotel to convey our thanks. It was held in a fantastic location, and many people commented on the beauty of the Mourne region. We encouraged them to come back and spend their well-earned money on tourism in the Mourne area and more widely across Northern Ireland. The summit was important, and it was good that we had the opportunity to hold it. We host the summit only every four years, so it is really important that we pick the right location in order to showcase the best of here. There is no doubt that Northern Ireland is well placed to be a leader in AI and in technological advances. From speaking to her, I know that our Chief Scientific and Technology Adviser firmly believes that we are really well placed to lead on that work. It was really interesting, however, to hear from the other jurisdictions, because it is clear that they are all really focusing on AI. They are all looking at their AI strategies, but, from our engagement with Professor Helen, we know that she is clear that we are well placed to become a world leader, provided that we do the work that we need to do now and get that started sooner rather than later.

I thank the Member for his question. He will be aware that the Shared Island Fund finances some of the shared tourism projects. We have that shared tourism offering and there is a body that provides marketing and support. I am really proud of our Mourne region and our Causeway coast. Those are strong brands in their own right. There has been a huge amount of investment, not just through the councils but Northern Ireland-wide, in promoting those brands, and it is important that they be protected. The Member will be surprised to hear how well known they are, and I welcome the fact that, in just a short number of weeks, we will have the Open coming to our wonderful Causeway Coast and Glens area. If the sun shines, which it hopefully will, that will be a real showcase for Northern Ireland, but even if it does not, it will still show the remarkable and beautiful landscape that we have and and are very proud of. Golf is a really good way to showcase that landscape, not just in the north coast but in the Mourne region, through the fantastic golf courses there.

There are undoubted benefits. I mentioned how Microsoft Copilot can simply summarise a document. Of course, that needs to be cross-checked. Over the past couple of weeks, most of us have had work experience pupils with us. When I talk to young people about my time studying at Queen's University for my law degree, I tell them that, to get a case, you went to the library, found the relevant volume of the 'All England Law Reports' and found it on page 187 or whatever it was. That is completely foreign to the new generation: they simply put it into the computer, and, bing, it is there. That is moving on even faster because of the ability to take complex documents and judgements and get AI to summarise them and put together, for example, briefings, press releases and press lines. We do not use that extensively in government: if we did, we would have to do so within an ethical framework. There is no doubt that there are opportunities with that. There is a lot of discussion about the quality that comes out of AI. It is really important that, if we are using AI in the public sector, we are using reliable forms of it and not just open forms of it that, as we know, are not quite where they need to be. I have no doubt that we will get there within a very short period.

Undoubtedly, there are risks and challenges. If you are using any kind of technological or digital application, you will want to make sure that people's data is kept secure, that that data is used ethically and properly and that the application is reliable and does not allow bias, prejudice or flaws to get into it that can skew the outcome. We are aware of a number of challenges, and we are also very aware that a lot of the technologies are at a very early stage and that their applications have not been sufficiently tested. We need to take care with that. The starting block for that is to set out an ethical framework to which all Departments, public bodies and the public sector should work. We should be able to collaborate on that, not just across the UK but across these isles. There is an opportunity for the British-Irish Council to accelerate that work in every jurisdiction by looking at a common ethical framework for it. Then, a Department or public body will measure any application that they are looking at against the key principles and ethics of that framework before they move forward with it.

2,841 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:57 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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