Séamus Hughes
Question:36 Mr. Hughes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the calendar for the forthcoming Presidency, indicating when and in what part of the country meetings will be held. [2368/96]
Written Answers - EU Presidency.
Batt O'Keeffe
Question:42 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to hold any of the meetings of the EU Heads of State in Cork during the term of the Irish Presidency of the EU. [1611/96]
Noel Davern
Question:74 Mr. Davern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the preparations, if any, that are being made for meetings during the EU Presidency; the number of meetings planned; and the locations of these meetings in Ireland. [2501/96]
Noel Davern
Question:76 Mr. Davern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered a spread of the locations of meetings during the EU presidency; outside of Dublin. [2510/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 42, 74 and 76 together.
One formal meeting of the European Council is scheduled to be held in Ireland during the Presidency. It will be held in Dublin Castle in December.
Due to the size of the formal European Council — which requires facilities for up to 6,000 people — Dublin Castle is the most appropriate location for this meeting. If a second European Council meeting is required during the Presidency, and depending on whether the meeting is formal or informal, venues other than Dublin Castle may be considered. However, it is likely that if a venue outside Dublin Castle is chosen for an informal meeting of Heads of State or Government, Dublin Castle may in any event have to be used as a press centre due to the extensive investment in press facilities made there.
A draft calendar of meetings of the Council of Ministers has been drawn up which indicates the dates of all formal and informal Council meetings during our Presidency. All formal meetings of the Council will, of course, be held in either Brussels or Luxembourg. The calendar includes the venues for the seven informal Council meetings scheduled to take place in Ireland. Of the seven informal Council meetings, two will be held outside Dublin Castle: one in Killarney and one in Tralee. It is of course, a matter for each individual Minister to decide the venue of the informal Council meeting he or she will be hosting. A copy of the draft calendar of Council meetings has been lodged in the Oireachtas Library for the information of all Deputies.
In addition to the seven informal Council meetings, arrangements are currently in train for a range of meetings, seminars and colloquia to be held in Ireland at both ministerial and official level, during the Presidency. These events will be held in a variety of locations around the country. The organisation of each of these meetings is the responsibility of the Minister or Department concerned.
My Department is continuing to consult other Departments about intentions with regard to hosting meetings. When a full list of meetings in Ireland is available I will arrange to have it lodged in the Oireachtas Library. In the meantime I have lodged in the Library a provisional draft list of all meetings scheduled to date.
Dublin Castle has been developed by the State as a venue for international conferences. Its facilities have been specifically designed with EU meetings in mind. Nevertheless, my Department has taken every opportunity to encourage Ministers and Departments to hold meetings, where practicable, in locations outside Dublin Castle and we will continue to do so.
Deputies should also bear in mind that groups from political parties or from the institutions or bodies of the European Union may visit Ireland either before or during the Presidency. Arrangements concerning the timing and location of such meetings is a matter for each group concerned.