Trimble calls Ministers meeting SF a stunt

The Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble has described the North-South ministerial meeting between Sinn Féin Ministers and two Government Ministers as a "political stunt".

This is simply a political stunt. It has got nothing to do with the Sinn Féin Ministers discharging ministerial duties. Mr David Trimble: unhappy at cross-Border ministerial meetings with Sinn Féin.

The North's First Minister added he would be lodging a complaint with the Taoiseach Mr Ahern.

Mr Martin McGuinness and Ms Bairbre de Brún this morning discussed cross-Border co-operation in health and education with the Minister for Health Mr Martin and the Minister for Education Dr Woods at Dublin Castle.

But Northern Ireland's First Minister said the meeting was being used by Sinn Féin for electoral purposes. "This is simply a political stunt. It has got nothing to do with the Sinn Féin Ministers discharging ministerial duties," he said.

For short-term political gain they could do long-term damage to the North-South Ministerial Council, he added.

"But what disturbs me most is the behaviour of the Irish Ministers. I really am astonished at their behaviour," he said.

The North's Education Minister Mr Martin McGuinness denied today's meeting would damage the North-South Ministerial Council. "I think what has done more to undermine the work of the North-South Ministerial Council and prevent the council from meeting is the strategy adopted by the Ulster Unionist Party."

He said he hoped that in the period straight after the British general election both sides could get together and resolve the outstanding issues.

Today the Ministers were dealing with vitally important issues to all the people of this island, he said. "In terms of our responsibilities in education we are dealing with things like educational underachievement, special educational needs child protection and of course prior to the difficulties, Michael Woods and I were discussing having an all-Ireland facility on this Island."

In that context, Mr McGuinness said it was "entirely appropriate that we meet like this". Today's meeting was "most definitely not" a slight on Mr Trimble, he said.

Following the meeting Dr Woods said education on the island of Ireland was moving ahead very rapidly and everyone should welcome the approach of co-operation.

"We have agreed in principle that as soon as things are restored to normal again in the Assembly that we can then get on with co-operation in relation to a centre of excellence for special needs to meet the needs of the island."

Mr Martin said the meeting represented "ongoing reaffirmation of the contact between both Departments, between both health systems. We are looking at the health status on an all-Ireland basis. We found out last month in the all-Ireland Cancer Report that we have an awful looking in common in terms of disease."

He rejected suggestions the meeting was in defiance of Mr Trimble. "These meetings are an ongoing process. There is a strong complimentarity between health and education and there is a lot of over-lapping issues in-so-far as both portfolios relate to children."

Mr Martin added he foresaw "regular contacts." He will meet with his Northern counterpart Ms Bairbre de Brún this afternoon in Dublin to jointly launch a campaign promoting exercise.

Mr Trimble banned Sinn Féin ministers from attending cross-border body meetings in November 2000 in an attempt to force progress on IRA decommissioning.

The ban was held to be illegal by the Belfast High Court in January 2001.

Additional reporting PA