Second Meeting Of
 The British- Irish Council
 (Environment Sectoral Group)

The British-Irish Council Environment Group held its second Ministerial meeting in Edinburgh today. The meeting was part of an ongoing series of meetings within the British-Irish Council (BIC) since the first Summit of 17 December 1999, which identified the environment as one of the issues for (early) discussion.

The British-Irish Council was established under the Strand Three Provisions of the Good Friday Agreement as a forum for its members to exchange information, discuss, consult, and use best endeavours to reach agreement on co-operation on matters of mutual interest within the competence of the relevant Administrations. The results of the first Environment Sectoral Group meeting held on 2 October 2000 were reported to the second BIC Summit meeting held on 30 November 2001, which endorsed the work programme proposed by the Environment Sectoral Group.

The British Government was represented by Mr. Michael Meacher MP, Minister for the Environment, who chaired the meeting. The Scottish Executive was represented by Mr. Ross Finnie MSP, Minister for Environment and Rural Development, who also hosted the meeting; and Mr. Allan Wilson MSP, Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development. The Irish Government was represented by Mr. Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for the Environment and Local Government and Mr. Joe Jacob TD, Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise. The National Assembly for Wales was represented by Ms. Sue Essex AM, Minister for the Environment; Dermot Nesbitt MLA, Minister for the Environment, and Brid Rogers MLA, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, represented the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Isle of Man was represented by Hon Pamela M Crowe MHK, Minister for Local Government and the Environment; Jersey by Senator Nigel Queree, President of the Planning & Environment Committee of the States of Jersey; States of Guernsey was represented by Deputy Roger Berry OBE, President of the Board of Administration.

A full list of delegation members is attached.

Minister Ross Finnie MSP gave a presentation to the meeting on Waste Management, based on a background paper prepared by the Scottish Executive. In the ensuing discussion all delegations agreed that this was a matter of great and increasing concern to all administrations. They also felt that there was considerable scope for administrations to co-operate in the area, particularly in sharing best practice and on research. The Group agreed to establish a Working Group of officials from member administrations to examine waste management issues faced by BIC members and to identify scope for co-operation. It was further agreed that the Working Group would present a report of its findings to the next Group Ministerial meeting.

The Irish and Isle of Man Governments, have taken the lead within the Group on the issue of Sellafield and Radioactive Waste, and the concern of the administrations bordering the Irish Sea on this matter was acknowledged. The Group held an initial exchange of views on a discussion document prepared by the Irish and Isle of Man delegations and it was agreed that the issue would be further considered by the Group at its next meeting.

The Group noted a paper by the British delegation drawing attention to the forthcoming Regional Seas Pilot Study of the Review of Marine Nature Conservation. Members agreed that this was a very worthwhile activity, and indicated their interest in participating as appropriate in the Study.

The Group noted a progress report from the sub-group on the Impacts of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation. The meeting noted with satisfaction the progress made, and agreed that the sub-group would continue its work and report again to the next Environment Group meeting.

In regard to future meetings, the Group was pleased to accept the offer of the Northern Ireland delegation to host the 3rd Environment Sector Group meeting, and the offer of the Isle of Man delegation to host the fourth meeting.

Members agreed that among the main items for discussion at the third meeting would be Sellafield and Radioactive Waste, and the report of the Working Group on Waste Management.



British-Irish Council (Environment Sectoral Group)
25 February 2002.
 

British-Irish Council (Environment Sectoral Group)
List of Delegates
Monday 25 February 2002