Cowen and Kenny to attend SDLP conference

Brian Cowen and Enda Kenny are to feature in an SDLP conference on "the nature and needs of modern Ireland".

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Fine Gael leader are to attend the conference this weekend in Belfast. They will be joined by representatives from the business, academic, trade union and political sectors.

SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan will make a keynote address focusing on politics in the era of the Good Friday Agreement.

The seminars will be chaired by the North’s Finance Minister Mr Sean Farren, SDLP chairman Mr Alex Attwood and Employment and Learning Minister Ms Carmel Hanna.

Deputy leader Ms Brid Rodgers, who announced on Tuesday she would not be contesting the next Assembly election, will open the conference.