Ms Mary O'Rourke and Sir Reg Empey yesterday put on a show of harmony when jointly launching an all-island e-business users' guide in Belfast.
The Minister for Public Enterprise and the North's UUP Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister denied their meeting was a "sham" in the light of the Ulster Unionist Council motion excluding Sinn Fein ministers from North-South Ministerial Council meetings.
Stressing the friendly atmosphere, Ms O'Rourke said she had an "excellent working relationship" with Sir Reg as well as liking him on a personal level.
"How can it be a sham if what we are launching is a very good North-South business initiative?" she asked, insisting the problems affecting the implementation of the Belfast Agreement could be worked through and would even strengthen the governments' and parties' resolve to do so.
Today's meeting in Enniskillen between the North's Health Minister, Ms Bairbre de Brun, and the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, which has been downgraded to a departmental meeting, would still be an example of cross-Border co-operation in an important field, food safety, Ms O'Rourke said.
Sir Reg said his party was fully in favour of North-South co-operation in fields of mutual benefit. "This is no sham but co-operation between the two major business organisations on this island. This is good constructive politics and it shows my party is taking its responsibilities seriously but we are not going to be trampled over by people who fail to honour their obligations."
Both Ministers praised the e-commerce users' guide as a comprehensive, common-sense document which would enable businesses to make best use of new telecommunications opportunities.