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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Leaders gather for council talks | Leaders gather for council talks |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The North-South Ministerial Council is meeting at Magee College in Londonderry. | The North-South Ministerial Council is meeting at Magee College in Londonderry. |
| It is the first gathering of the body since Peter Robinson became Northern Ireland's first minister and Brian Cowen took charge in the Republic. | It is the first gathering of the body since Peter Robinson became Northern Ireland's first minister and Brian Cowen took charge in the Republic. |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is co-chairing the talks. | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is co-chairing the talks. |
| The NI Agriculture Minister is expected to press for a share of the EU 180m euro dioxin compensation package for pork and beef farmers. | The NI Agriculture Minister is expected to press for a share of the EU 180m euro dioxin compensation package for pork and beef farmers. |
| The economic downturn is also one of the issues to be discussed at Friday's meeting. | The economic downturn is also one of the issues to be discussed at Friday's meeting. |
| Sinn Féin Foyle assembly member Martina Anderson said the meeting was "an opportunity to highlight the entire north-west region in terms of what is needed to promote and develop the area". | Sinn Féin Foyle assembly member Martina Anderson said the meeting was "an opportunity to highlight the entire north-west region in terms of what is needed to promote and develop the area". |
| The North-South Ministerial Council was set up as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to increase cross-border co-operation on issues of mutual interest. | The North-South Ministerial Council was set up as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to increase cross-border co-operation on issues of mutual interest. |
| On Friday, Mr McGuinness welcomed the appointment of former Good Friday talks chairman George Mitchell as President Obama's new Middle East envoy. |