Paul Murphy has welcomed a report on the work done by the British-Irish Council.

The council was set up as a result of the Good Friday agreement and aims to encourage cooperation between the British and Irish governments, the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Speaking after the report's launch on Tuesday, the Northern Ireland secretary said cooperation between the various administrations was improving as a result of the council's work.

The study sets out the work done by the council from 1999 to 2003.

"This report shows clearly the breadth of work in which the BIC is now involved and I am confident that it can build on its already impressive work programme," Murphy said.
 
"The British-Irish Council was established under the Belfast agreement to promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the relationships among the member states.

"The Council continues to play a role in supporting the Northern Ireland peace process and has also forged new and productive working relationships that would otherwise not have existed."

A joint statement issued by the council's members said they were continuing to "promote the development of relations in a number of practical and helpful ways".

Despite the suspension of the Northern Ireland assembly in October 2002, the council has continued to meet.

Its most recent summit was held in Wales in November 2003 and over 70 meetings of officials have taken place between 1999 and the end of 2003, the report revealed.

Disputes

While it has improved cooperation in non-contentious areas such as tourism and tackling social inequality, doubts remain about its role in tackling more difficult issues.

The report highlights the issue of radioactive discharges into the Irish Sea from the UK's Sellafield nuclear power station, but suggests that little common ground has been reached.

"The issue of Sellafield and radioactive waste is of major interest to British-Irish Council member administrations which border the Irish Sea, as it raises concerns in regard to safety and public health arising from the operations of the nuclear industry and, in particular, the question of the management, processing and disposal of radioactive waste," it said.

"The topic has been considered by the council, with the Irish government and the Isle of Man taking the lead on the issue.

"To date, discussion has centred on issues relating to safety and public health, with particular reference to the nature and environmental impact of the operations of the Sellafield complex."