Assembly Commission Interparliamentary and International Strategy 2026 - 2030

Dowload a PDF version of the strategy (2 pages, 135MB)

The Assembly has many opportunities to engage with other parliaments, regions and countries through interparliamentary networks, through outward visits, and through parliamentarians, diplomats, trade delegations and others who visit Parliament Buildings.

The Assembly Commission is committed to strengthening and deepening these relationships. External engagement enables the Assembly to continue developing as a leading parliamentary institution and become more effective in responding to the challenges facing our community.

The Assembly Commission also acknowledges the interest from other countries, especially in post-conflict societies, to learn about the Assembly and recognises our responsibility to support other parliaments by sharing our knowledge and experience.

The Interparliamentary and International Strategy explains how the Assembly Commission will coordinate and support the Assembly’s work with other parliaments and internationally. It supports the delivery of our Corporate Strategy 2023-2028 and is closely linked to Our Priority:

‘The Assembly will be empowered to achieve its full potential’

 

Our Aim

We want to seize opportunities offered by interparliamentary and international engagement to enhance the profile and increase the impact and influence of the Assembly.

How will we know if what we are doing is working?

The Assembly’s profile, impact and influence are enhanced on an international and interparliamentary stage.

The Assembly performs its scrutiny, legislative and representational roles more effectively by learning from, and applying good practice from, other
legislatures.

Other parliaments, international bodies and partners hear, understand and have regard to the Assembly’s position, where their actions may affect the work of the Assembly and our communities.

Other parliaments benefit by learning from the experience of the Assembly, its Members and officials, supporting parliamentary democracy elsewhere.

How will we achieve this?

We will…
Strengthening relationships with other parliaments and internationally
  • Support the Speaker to fulfil protocol commitments and represent the Assembly to parliamentary and diplomatic visitors and diplomatic consulates
  • Build and maintain relationships with other parliaments and bodies, to support knowledge exchange and Members’ professional development
  • Enable the Assembly’s participation in interparliamentary and international bodies which can influence or make decisions affecting its work or the people it represents
  • Generate goodwill by hosting visitors to the Assembly and highlighting the best of Northern Ireland
  • Work with the Executive Office and local government to identify opportunities for collaboration, to maximise positive impacts of international engagement

 
Empowering Members to represent the Assembly in interparliamentary and international forums
  • Ensure Members representing the Assembly have the necessary support to fully participate in relevant discussions and communicate the Assembly’s views
  • Facilitate opportunities for Members to meet representatives from other parliaments and participate in professional development opportunities
  • Support scrutiny of intergovernmental relations, by enabling future activity or structures that may be agreed by the Assembly
  • Provide Assembly committees and Members with accurate, up-to-date information on EU affairs and policy or legislative developments elsewhere which affect the work of the Assembly

 
Identifying, understanding and sharing good practice
  • Empower Assembly committees to engage with counterparts in other parliaments and to learn from policy initiatives and delivery internationally
  • Facilitate sharing of information and learning gained from parliamentary engagement with other Members and Assembly committees
  • Participate at an official level in relevant networks with officials from other parliaments, to share best practice
  • Promote interparliamentary and international activity through our communications channels, to explain its value and impact to the public