The British-Irish Council (Bic) is to get a permanent secretariat, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced at the inter-governmental summit today.
Speaking at the 10th Bic summit at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin, Mr Ahern said that the permanent secretariat would ensure continuity between summits. He said a date for the introduction would be announced when staffing and the mechanics had been worked out.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern welcomes Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond to the British Irish Council meeting at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
It is believed that Northern Ireland First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley was a strong proponent of the permanent secretariat.
At today's summit the Taoiseach hosted ministers from London, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The main issue for discussion was the misuse of drugs in Britain and Ireland.
Mr Ahern said there was a "detailed analysis of the misuse of drugs" and that talks brought together "the collective wisdom of all the administrations".
He said cocaine was becoming a major problem across Britain and the Republic. "If you look back to when we met in 2001, there was very little reference to cocaine. Now here we are in 2008, and there is very little that isn't referenced to cocaine," said Mr Ahern.
The summit also recognised that the misuse of drugs and the misuse of alcohol "go hand in hand," Mr Ahern added.
The North's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, criticised the message TV soap operas sent out in the face of rising problems with under-age drinking.
"I am not a fan of EastEndersor Coronation Street, but my wife and my children, particularly the girls, watch the programme. I have to say I am absolutely appalled at the level of concentration around the pub in the programmes.
"I am appalled at the drunkenness that is quite clear for everybody to see and all of that before the nine o'clock watershed when children as young as eight, nine, 10 and 11 are watching.
"Now I regard that as irresponsible broadcasting, and I think something should be done about it," said Mr McGuinness.
Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan called for the current binge culture to be changed into a "sipping" culture similar to continental Europe, while the Rev Ian Paisley, called for increased protection for children and measures to tackle suicide.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, said the smoking ban was a good example of how the administrations could follow each other in adopting successful health promotion policies.
The Bic, which last met in Belfast last summer, will reconvene in Edinburgh in September.