Nesbitt addresses Sellafield issue at British Irish Council meeting

The newly installed Minister of Environment Dermot Nesbitt has attended his first meeting of the British Irish council in Edinburgh.

Carrying out one of his first official engagements as Environment Minister, Mr Nesbitt was in Edinburgh to represent Stormont's voice on the controversial issue of Sellafield at the British Irish Council Environment meeting on Monday February 25.

Mr Nesbitt who had been a junior minister in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister took over the ministerial reigns from Sam Foster last week due to an Ulster Unionist cabinet reshuffle.

On the issue of Britain's nuclear plant Sellafield on the Cumbrian coast opposite Ireland, Mr Nesbitt said there were "significant concerns" in Northern Ireland about the continuing operation of the Sellafield site. A result of which, he said, "there are matters of public confidence at issue that I must take seriously.”

The environment meeting also considered the major challenges that administrations in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland were facing regarding waste management.

Mr Nesbitt commented that: “We are also mutually obligated for the sake of future generations to pursue policies reflecting a more sustainable approach to waste management.”

Mr Nesbitt said he would be stressing the importance of East West relations.

“East West relations are a very important component of the Belfast Agreement. While Northern Ireland benefits from a local Assembly, and North South bodies establish good neighbourliness, we can also benefit from a dynamic British Irish relationship. It is therefore very important to be in Edinburgh to tackle major environmental issues throughout the British Isles."

(AMcE)