Vol. 453 No. 3
38 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to meet the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Sweden, Austria and Finland in order to co-ordinate the positions of the EU neutrals for next year's intergovernmental conference. [9274/95]
Ireland has many common interests with the new EU member states, as with other partners, and I have frequent contact with all my ministerial colleagues on the Council of Ministers on issues of concern to Ireland within the European Union. I will be making appropriate contacts with my colleagues, in preparation for the inter-governmental conference, on a range of issues that are likely to be before the conference, with a view to maximising support and understanding for Irish positions. It will also be necessary for Ireland to have an understanding of the position of other member states before assuming the responsibility of Presidency of the European Union and of the inter-governmental conference next year.
