The North's First Minister has come out in support of an extension of all-Ireland co-operation in certain key areas. Mr David Trimble was speaking after the first meeting in "institutional format" of the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC). The Belfast Agreement provides for the council to meet under this term to discuss institutional and cross-sectoral issues.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Mr Trimble and Mr Mark Durkan, the Deputy First Minister, and was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.
It was the first such meeting since the NSMC was established two years ago.