Vol. 528 No. 3
101 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of meetings he has held with his ministerial counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive; the topics that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30368/00]
I have had five formal meetings with the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Brid Rodgers.
The first meeting was on 8 December 1999, shortly after her appointment.
We agreed to intensify the existing co-operation between our two Departments with priority being given to the configuration of pig processing on the island as a whole and to co-operation in research.
The other four have been through the North-South Ministerial Council, two in its agriculture sectoral format and the other two at the plenary sessions. The following issues of mutual interest were discussed: animal and plant health research and development; animal health policy and operations; joint study on the pig processing industry; cross-Border rural development; the less favoured areas scheme; and the forthcoming World Trade Organisation round, EU enlargement and the review of the Common Agricultural Policy in the context of Agenda 2000. Continued and enhanced co-operation has been agreed in relation to these areas.
I also met Ms Rodgers on the occasion of the first joint congress of the Irish Veterinary Association and the Irish Veterinary Union in October which we both addressed.
