Environment JC 26 October 2007

1. The first NSMC Environment Sectoral meeting since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly was held in the Manor House Hotel, Killadeas, on 26 October 2007.

2. The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by Minister Arlene Foster MLA and Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA. The Irish Government was represented by Minister John Gormley TD. Minister Foster chaired the meeting.

3. The Council noted and welcomed progress made since the last meeting in 2002 including joint work on the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive to enhance water management on a coordinated cross-border basis; over 175,000 waste fridges and freezers recycled under a Northern Ireland/Ireland contract and a successful cross-border waste awareness campaign undertaken.

4. The Council agreed that implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive for the three International cross-border River Basin Districts (IRBDs) falling within the scope of the Directive should proceed on the basis of single management plans for each IRBD. The River Water Districts are:

(i)  the North Western IRBD

(ii)  the Neagh Bann IRBD

(iii)  the Shannon IRBD

The EU Directive requires that Member States maintain high status of waters where it exists, prevent any deterioration in the existing status of any waters and achieve at least “good status” in relation to all waters by 2015. Ministers requested the North South Water Framework Coordination Group of officials, which takes forward this work, to report on progress at its next meeting.

5. The Council welcomed the progress made by the North South Market Development Steering Group which worked on a mutually beneficial approach to the development of the waste and recycling market, exploiting opportunities to benefit from economies of scale.

6. The Council agreed that the Steering Group should require the market development delivery agencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland to develop proposals for a joint Market Development action programme, guided by the respective strategies and programmes in both jurisdictions.  

7. The Council also agreed that the Steering Group should be chaired by a representative from the business sector and should include members from the business sector as well as relevant Non Governmental Organisations.

8. The Council recognised the continuing joint work on the feasibility of establishing of a Paper Mill, capable of reprocessing waste paper generated on the island, contingent on the mobilisation of private sector support and funding and requested a progress report for its next meeting.

9. Ministers welcomed the significant progress made in tackling the movements of illegal cross-border waste and specifically the recent joint enforcement actions, designed to prevent such illegal activities.  

10. Ministers also endorsed a “Road Map” that has been developed in response to a request by the European Commission. The ‘Road Map’sets out the responsibilities of both jurisdictions within the context of the relevant legislation. It outlines a step by step approach for the removal and disposal of waste which has already been illegally dumped and sets out a series of joint enforcement actions designed to prevent future illegal movements.  

11. The Council approved the commissioning of a review of two environmental research websites – a North/South website of environmental research (aNSwer) incorporating an environmental database - which were developed under the auspices of the NSMC and launched in 2002. It welcomed the intentions of the Environment Protection Agency and Environment and Heritage Service to meet to determine the potential opportunities for the co-ordination of joint environmental research.

12. The Council noted the successful outcome of a cross border waste awareness campaign and requested officials to explore the scope for further work including information exchange, environmental awareness campaigns and funding options.

13. The Council agreed to meet again in this Sector in March/April 2008.

Joint Secretariat

October 2007