Environment Minister Arlene Foster has spoken with her Dublin counterpart, John Gormley, 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.

-- Advertisement --

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.

(GK/JM)