Vol. 528 No. 3
184 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government 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. [30371/00]
A range of areas for co-operation on the environment, within the framework of the Good Friday Agreement, were agreed at the first plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in December, 1999. Subsequently, I had two meetings with the Minister for the Environment in Northern Ireland, in the environmental sectoral format of the council. These meetings reviewed existing co-operation on environmental issues and developed new work programmes in respect of priority areas for enhanced co-operation, in particular, in relation to environmental research and water quality management. I am arranging for copies of the joint communiqués from these meetings to be forwarded to the Deputy.
I participated this year in three meetings of larger fora also attended by the Minister of the Environment in Northern Ireland i.e. the two plenary sessions of the North-South Ministerial Council and one meeting of the British Irish Council, environment sectoral group.
