Dermot Ahern
Question:43 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the arrangements, if any, he has made to keep in regular contact with other EU Heads of Government during the Irish Presidency of the EU. [14030/96]
Written Answers. - EU Presidency.
Robert Molloy
Question:45 Mr. Molloy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the specific schedule of events during Ireland's six-month Presidency of the EU. [14128/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 45 together as they deal with similar subject matter.
I assume Deputy Ahern's question relates to the arrangements both the Taoiseach and I have made, and continue to make, to keep in touch with our counterparts in the European Union in the context of our Presidency.
The Taoiseach has engaged in an extensive round of consultations with his colleagues with a view to planning and preparing for our Presidency since the start of this year. These contacts will be developed and extended through the Presidency period especially with a view to the two European Council meetings that will be held in October and December.
The Taoiseach met with then Prime Minister Dini at the start of the Italian Presidency in January. Prime Minister Simitis of Greece visited Dublin in March and both the Finnish President and the Finnish Prime Minister visited Ireland and had meetings with the Taoiseach in May and June respectively. The Austrian Chancellor, Mr. Vranitzky, visited also in May, as did the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr. Dehaene. And in June the Taoiseach had a bilateral meeting with Chancellor Kohl in Bonn. The Taoiseach had meetings with the new Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Prodi, and the new Spanish Prime Minister, Mr. Aznar in Brussels also in June. In addition, the Taoiseach discussed EU issues on a bilateral basis with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Major, on a number of occasions.
As well as the series of bilateral meetings, the Taoiseach had a number of opportunities to discuss issues on the European agenda with the EU Heads of State or Government when they met at the Europe-Asia meeting in Bangkok at the beginning of March. Since the beginning of the year the Taoiseach has attended also two European Council meetings: in Turin in March and in Florence in June.
Now that the Presidency has begun and with a view to discussing the Irish Presidency's priorities and preparing for the European Council meetings in October and December, the Taoiseach will have a range of meetings with his counterparts. For example, the Taoiseach will meet the President of France, Mr. Chirac, next week in Paris and Chancellor Kohl will visit Ireland in October. Details of further meetings are being worked out at present.
In preparing for the Presidency the Taoiseach has also had a series of meetings with the President of the Commission, Mr. Santer, and with a range of Commissioners. Every Government Minister who will chair the Council of Ministers has had extensive contacts with the relevant Commissioner or Commissioners during the past six months to ensure the necessary planning and preparation for the Presidency. These preparations culminated with the Commission-Government meeting held in Dublin on 2 July.
For my own part I am in the process of holding Presidency consultation with all European Union Foreign Ministers. Following meetings in Madrid and Lisbon this week, and in Athens next week, I will have completed a full series of bilateral meetings with my European Union counterparts. In addition I have the opportunity to meet my colleagues at least every four weeks in the context of the General Affairs Council which I will chair from this month.
As I indicated to the House in response to questions on 6 February, 25 March and 30 May, and in my statement on the Florence European Council and the Irish Presidency of the European Union on 26 June, a Calendar of Council meetings, a list of Presidency related meetings to be held in Ireland and the schedule for Intergovernmental Conference related meetings during our Presidency have been lodged with the Oireachtas Library for the information of all Deputies. These have been updated regularly and will continue to be updated during the Presidency. I will continue to lodge updates of all three documents in the Oireachtas Library on a regular basis.