· FOI · unclear
First Minister on same sex marriage: FOI release
Information requested
You asked for briefing notes given to the First Minister on same sex marriage for British Irish Councils over the last three years.
Response
The briefing packs for the British Irish Council Summit in Guernsey in June 2014 and for the British Irish Council Summit in London in November 2015 each contained a note on same-sex marriage. These were not supplied directly to Ministers, but were with senior officials if required and were listed on the contents page which went to Ministers. I attach a copy of each of these briefing notes, as you requested, and attach a schedule listing the documents. The first briefing note reflects the position in the various jurisdictions on same sex marriage at the time. There have been changes in a number of the jurisdictions since then. I have redacted a personal mobile phone number at the very end of the second briefing note.