There has been a pledge this week for inter-government cohesion on environmental issues.

The Stormont Environment Minister Alex Attwood said he would work in tandem with politicians from other jurisdictions to improve our environment.

He met with Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, and will travel to Dublin next week to meet Phil Hogan, the Dáil Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Common issues, which they could build on, included a marine bill, speeding up planning and best value for citizens from the reform of local government.

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The SDLP's Alex Attwood said: "I am determined to deepen working relationships between Belfast, Dublin and Edinburgh. That is why I met with Minister John Swinney, in the Scottish Parliament and will meet Phil Hogan, my counterpart Minister in Dublin next week."

Referring specifically to his meeting in Scotland Alex Attwood said: "In a series of lengthy meetings, we worked through a litany of issues common to us all.

"These included building a marine bill that was bold in its ambition, reforming planning to speed up processes and help economic opportunities, the best model for developer contributions and how to get best value from local government and maximising opportunities for the reform of public administration," he said.

"This is the beginning of more intensive working relationships with Scotland and Dublin."

(BMcC)