The Environment Minister has announced he is to open a debate on the establishment of an all island independent environment agency.

Minister Mark H Durkan also called for greater North South co-operation to protect and promote the environment.

Speaking at the Environment Ireland Conference in Croke Park Mr Durkan said: "Minister Kelly and I have been collaborating on a range of issues. We have been jointly tackling the scourge of waste crime – by cleaning up illegal land fill sites in border regions and strong enforcement action.

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"This is all very positive but we need to step up a gear on a North South and East West basis - to tackle the infiltration of the waste industry by organised crime and to deal with the scourge of fuel laundering.

"The border region - and in particular the Newry and Mourne and South Armagh region - is plagued with the dumping of fuel laundered waste. I therefore support the call for more determined action to eliminate the activities of organized crime gangs including the establishment of a permanent, full time multidisciplinary task force. The National Crime Agency can play a key role in this."

He continued: "At a time of restructuring of government departments in the North, I believe that the time is now right to put in place environmental governance arrangements that are fit for purpose and align well with arrangements across the island and other jurisdictions."

(CD/LM)