Skip the Northern Ireland Government Bar|
Skip navigation

01 February 2008 - Foster expresses concerns over illegal waste from South

Environment Minister Arlene Foster today spoke with her Dublin counterpart, John Gormley TD, about the need to return the illegal waste that had been dumped in Northern Ireland.

In several successful prosecutions taken by the Environment and Heritage Service recently, material in illegal landfill sites had been identified as originating from South of the Border. Mr Gormley is the Irish Minister responsible for Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The Ministers spoke in the margins at the first British Irish Council Sectoral (Environment) meeting to be held since the return of devolution, which took place at Clandeboye Estate, Bangor.

Afterwards, Arlene Foster said she had a constructive conversation with Minister Gormley and had used the opportunity to propose a way forward on the issue. Other issues discussed at the meeting included coastal zone management and climate change.

Notes to Editors:

Attending the meeting today were:

Joan Ruddock MP, Minister for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Waste, chaired the meeting.
Arlene Foster MLA, Minister for the Environment, accompanied by Margaret Ritchie MLA, Minister for Social Development represented the Northern Ireland Executive.
John Gormley TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government represented the Irish Government.
Deputy David De Lisle, PhD.,Minister for Environment Department represented Guernsey.
Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing represented The Welsh Assembly.
Michael Russell MSP, Minister for Environment represented the Scottish Executive.
John Shimmin MHK, Minister for Local Government and the Environment, represented the Isle of Man.
Senator Freddie Cohen, Minister for Planning and Environment represented Jersey

For further media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0014 or out-of-hours call EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.


Department of the Environment News