Vol. 525 No. 5
94 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of meetings of the EU Culture Council that have taken place since June 1997; the main items for discussion at these meetings; the representative from Ireland at these meetings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25619/00]
95 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she considers her attendance record of 38% at meetings of EU Culture Ministers since she took office to be satisfactory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25565/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together.
There have been 14 formal and informal meetings of the EU Culture Ministers since June 1997, five of which I have attended personally. The informal meetings that I was unable to attend were attended by senior officials of my Department.
The main culture items on the formal Council agenda over the period 1997-2000 have been the adoption of the single framework programme for culture – Culture 2000 – with a budget of 167 million euros over the period 2000-04 and the decision on the capital of culture event for the period 2005-19. The main political debate on these two items took place at the formal Council meeting on 17 November 1998 which I attended.
On the audio visual side the main focus has been on the development of a new audio visual programme, MEDIA PLUS, which is still under discussion and which will be the main item on the agenda for the Council of Ministers later this month under the auspices of the French Presidency which I will be attending. Public service broadcasting and the funding of public service broadcasters is also a matter of current debate under the French Presidency which will submit a report to the Council later this month.
I am satisfied that Ireland's interests were represented satisfactorily at the Council of Ministers meetings since I took office.
The Minister answered a question here recently in which she said she had attended five of the 13 formal and informal meetings. I raise this question in light of her recent comments in Boston regarding the impact which the EU has on our cultural institutions. Following the Minister's statement did she attend the meeting of the Culture Council? Will she attend the forthcoming meeting on 25 November?
As I said in my reply I will attend the meeting which will discuss the agenda of MEDIA PLUS. The question of attendance at meetings depends on my commitments. Obviously there will be occasions on which there will be a clash of diary commitments, for example, the last two EU Council meetings on 16 May 2000 and 26 September 2000. On 16 May I was in Washington because I was in the United States for the opening of the Island Arts for Ireland's Festival. We are very much involved in that festival. This Government gave tremendous financial support to that project which was initiated by Jean Kennedy Smith. We wished to be of assistance there both financially and in many other ways. On 26 September I could not attend the EU Council meeting because I was otherwise engaged in a North-South Ministerial Council which took precedence. This will happen from time to time. Certainly when major decisions have been taken I have been in attendance. I intend to be at the next meeting which will have particular reference to MEDIA PLUS, a matter which is being negotiating. I will be interested to hear the report on public service broadcasters which is a matter of concern to me.
Given that the Minister has not attended a formal EU Culture Council meeting for two years will she agree that is hardly satisfactory in the national interest? Is it a fact that of the last four formal meetings of the Culture Council the Irish delegation was led by the deputy head of the Embassy to the EU? In general terms, given that only five meetings have been attended is that sending good vibes to our colleagues in Europe? Is there a danger that the Council will look on the Irish involvement at ministerial level as being casual and that Irish items will be treated in a casual fashion?
The answer to the Deputy's first question is "no". The answer to his second question is that the deputy permanent representative was in attendance at the meeting. The answer to his third question is "no".
If the Minister does not attend one of these meetings does she inform herself of what takes place at the meeting? Who represented Ireland at that meeting? Was consideration given to a Minister of State representing the country? If the Minister is concerned about the implications of decisions made in Europe would it not be appropriate that she would have some input into those meetings? Irrespective of whether major decisions were made the meetings have a build up to a major decision.
I assure the Deputy we always see the agenda before these meetings take place. If it is impossible for us to attend meetings due to other commitments and other priorities where major decisions are not being made, obviously the information is relayed back to us through the usual channels. The deputy permanent representative would represent any Minister who cannot be at such meetings. On the occasion of the last meeting on 26 September neither the Minister of State nor I could attend because our priority was to attend the North-South meeting.
Is the Minister open to criticism that her diary is not being dealt with in the most efficient manner if there are clashes between various important meetings? Is the Minister telling us indirectly that the presence of Ministers at EU Council meetings is not really important, that business goes ahead anyway? Can we take it from her infrequent attendance at these meetings that she is making a statement in terms of her scepticism in regard to European integration?
The answer to the first question posed by the Deputy is "no". His second question related to the business which takes place at these meetings. Decisions are not always taken at those meetings as I am sure the Deputy will understand. There are a number of issues on which lengthy negotiation takes place. Having served the European Parliament for five years I am aware that decisions in Europe are not taken quickly. Negotiations take place and we are kept informed of those. The answer to the Deputy's third question is "no".
Is the deputy permanent representative fully briefed before these meetings on the Minister's views or policies?
Yes.
It appears that not all the Minister's colleagues are as lax in their attendance at Council meetings as the Minister. Some have 100% attendance. Taking her logic, is it the case that these Ministers are wasting their time attending such meetings whereas she is involved in much more important activities? Has the Minister a problem with her diary? Surely the formal meetings of the EU Culture Council are flagged well in advance. What meetings are more important than those of the EU Culture Council in terms of developing the whole remit of her Department and making sure Ireland benefits to the best possible level in terms of EU funding?
I do not accept I am lax in my responsibilities as Minister. With regard to the priorities of other Departments, it is not for me to comment. Obviously each Minister will look at his or her responsibilities and decide how they are best addressed both at home and in Brussels. I have no problem with my diary. The Deputy asked what meetings are more important to attend. For example, I would certainly put the North-South Ministerial Council meeting above the EU Council meeting of 26 September in terms of its agenda. If the Deputy had been in my place I wonder whether he would have attended that Council meeting or the North-South Ministerial Council.
I understand that convergence of telecommunications was discussed at one of these meetings. Did that have implications for the Broadcasting Bill which is due to be discussed on Committee Stage tomorrow?
There have been discussions on the whole question of broadcasting in which I have taken part with great interest. This matter will be further discussed when we have the proposals from the Commission with regard to public service broadcasting, State aids and advertising. They are the main areas under discussion. They would cause me some concern but, as yet, we do not have the full debate before us. When we do I will look at that matter very carefully. We are told that later this month the French Presidency will be able to further this debate and I look forward to taking part in it concerning those issues.
