2 October 2000

"Together We Can Make A Difference" Sam Foster Tells Inaugural Meeting Of British Irish Council

Minister for the Environment, Mr Sam Foster MLA today addressed the inaugural meeting of the British Irish Group on the Environment. The British Irish Group was created as a result of Strand Three of the Agreement. Mr Foster was accompanied at the meeting in London by Education Minister Mr Martin McGuinness MLA.

In making his address at this historic first meeting Mr Foster said:

"At the end of June I had the pleasure of hosting the first meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on the Environment. That meeting set in motion some important work to help meet the environmental objectives we share in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It also served to demonstrate just how much of that work is set in a European or international context.

"Today I look forward to the opportunity to take aspects of that work forward within a wider dimension, throughout the British Isles. There are sound reasons why we should work together on aspects of the Environment that we all share, such as the seas around our coasts for example.

"There is much that we can do together that some of us individually may have difficulty in taking forward because of lack of expertise or resources. For example, some of us may have difficulty in developing markets for recycled

waste or we may have problems in carrying out much needed research. This meeting today presents an opportunity to cement relationships, to build on and formalise the good work already being carried out by our officials and to identify opportunities for mutual advantage through further collaboration.

"By pooling our resources together, we can create a cleaner and healthier environment, a better environment. Together we can make a difference."

 

 NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Representatives at the first meeting of the British Irish Council Sectoral Group on the Environment included:

Mr Michael Meacher MP

Mr Sam Foster MLA

MR Martin McGuinness MLA

Mr Noel Dempsey TD Minister for the Environment Rep of Ireland

Ms Sarah Boyack MSP Minister for Transport and the Environment Scotland

Mr Bob Macey Head of Environment Division Wales

Hon Walter Gilbey MHK Minister for Local Government and the Environment Isle of Man

Senator Nigel Queree President of the Planning and Environment Committee Jersey

Deputy Roger Berry President of the Board of Administration Guernsey.

2. The meeting took place at 1pm Monday 2 October at St Ermins Hotel Claxton Street London.
3. A joint communique will issue at the end of the meeting around 4pm and will be available from DETR Press Office Tel Jane Morley 0207 890 4615.
4. For further information please contact Philip Maguire DOE Press Office Tel 028 9054 0013.