Ministers grateful for 'normal' meeting

Today's North-South Ministerial Council meeting in Dublin was universally praised for its "normality" above all else.

The 22 ministers present at this afternoon's meetings in Dublin Castle debated such issues as tourism, trade, infrastructure and cross-border mobility.

It was a "normal agenda on normal, but important issues", the Taoiseach Mr Ahern told a press conference this evening.

Mr Trimble echoed his comments, saying he was grateful for the opportunity to hold a meeting "focusing on routine matters of mutual benefit for both parts of Ireland".

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said the meeting was an indication of the "enthusiastic implementation of the Belfast Agreement" for the benefit of "both sides".

The Deputy First Minister, Mr Mark Durkan, described it as a "positive and productive" afternoon's work, although he joked it had been "a long time coming". Mr Trimble merely laughed.

The one issue that was out of the ordinary was that of cross-border emergency plans in the wake of September 11th. Mr Ahern said they had been discussed, but "hopefully they will never arise".

Mr Ahern did concede, however, that he was disappointed by the fact the positive note of the meeting had been somewhat soured by the security alert on the Dublin-Belfast road today.

"Regrettably, there are a small number of dedicated people who would still like to cause problems for us."

The council will meet again on May 1st next year in Northern Ireland.