Northern Ireland should play a role in the bid to host the 2008 European Soccer Championships, Mr Mark Durkan said yesterday.
The SDLP Deputy First Minister said there was "absolutely no reason" why Northern Ireland could not be part of the bid. He was speaking after a meeting in Government Buildings with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
"Given that Northern Ireland has key links with the South and also has very strong links with Scotland, there is absolutely no reason why Northern Ireland couldn't be supportive of and part of that particular bid," he said.
Mr Durkan said there would obviously be questions about whether there were appropriate facilities. "But there is absolutely no reason why Northern Ireland should not lend its support to any such bid."
He had a hunch that the Northern Ireland Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister, Mr Michael McGimpsey , who was very active in this area, would bring forward proposals to the Executive. "I have no doubt that Michael McGimpsey will be very active in this field."
Asked about his meeting with Mr Ahern, he said they had discussed the role of the Policing Board in relation to the report by the Police Ombudsman, Mrs Nuala O'Loan, into the Omagh bomb investigation.
The board, he said, had a "key role" in this matter. "That is something that the families have made clear as well. There has been maybe some misunderstanding about the remit of the Policing Board.
"But the fact is the Policing Board is responsible for ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of policing.
The concerns that derive from the Ombudsman's report are very much in that area. And the key recommendations in terms of improving the situation are very much in that area.
"What we want to do as a political party, all be it a party which has representatives on that board, is make sure the Policing Board and all its members have the space and support to do that work."
Mr Durkan said there was a concern that some people were misrepresenting the Ombudsman's report. "We do have people fanning confusion as to what exactly the Chief Constable's remit is, what exactly the Policing Board's remit is. There is a danger that confusion and concern can reign as far as the new beginning of policing is concerned."
The Policing Board needed to be able to perform its role in a clear and effective way, he added. "That I believe will go on then to reassure not just the Omagh families on the key issues which they need to be reassured on, but will also re-assure the public, that the new beginning in policing will continue in a healthy way. "
Mr Durkan said he had spoken to Mr Ahern about the performance of the North-South institutions and their hopes to improve them, and the criminal justice review and their concerns about the legislation currently before the House of Commons.