Ministers in landmark North-South talks

Ministers from newly-formed governments in Dublin and Belfast will today meet for landmark talks in Armagh City.

The plenary session of the North South Ministerial Council will discuss common ground on north-south issues like education, health, tourism and transport.

The agenda is believed to include proposals to reopen the Ulster Canal and possible new air routes between Dublin and Belfast.

A fleet of ministerial cars carrying Stormont ministers and Irish Government members will begin arriving at the Armagh City Hotel by mid-morning.

Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will sit across the talks table from Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste Brian Cowen.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday held face-to-face talks in Belfast with the politicians for the first time.

Set up under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the North South Ministerial Council first met in 1999.

Armagh City is the ecclesiastical base of both the Catholic Church and Church of Ireland and the burial place of former High King of Ireland Brian Boru.

The secretariat of the North South Ministerial Council is permanently based in the city.