Mary Harney
Question:37 Miss Harney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the events being held in Ireland during the Presidency of the EU involving Heads of Government of the EU. [15827/96]
Written Answers. - EU Presidency.
Declan Bree
Question:38 Mr. Bree asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Sligo Chamber of Commerce is anxious to ensure that there will be EU meetings held in Sligo and the north west region during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in order to allow the area have an opportunity to promote itself to EU officials; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that Sligo Chamber of Commerce believes that such meetings would have an important impact on the tourism industry in the area; and if his Department has responded to the many submissions regarding this issue which were made by the Sligo Chamber of Commerce to the Government over the past 18 months. [16135/96]
Brendan Kenneally
Question:44 Mr. Kenneally asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will list the number of conferences to be held in each county during the Irish Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15255/96]
Martin Cullen
Question:56 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the programme of meetings and events which will be presided over by Government Ministers during Ireland's Presidency of the EU; the location of each meeting and event; and the purpose of each meeting and event. [16045/96]
Martin Cullen
Question:57 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the main priorities for Ireland's Presidency of the EU; the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16061/96]
Martin Cullen
Question:58 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give details of the programme of meetings and events which will be presided over by Government Ministers during Ireland's Presidency of the EU; the purpose and main theme of each meeting and function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16077/96]
Declan Bree
Question:59 Mr. Bree asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Sligo Chamber of Commerce has been most anxious to ensure that EU meetings will be held in Sligo and in the north west region during Ireland's Presidency in order to allow the area have an opportunity to promote itself to EU officials; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the Sligo Chamber of Commerce believes that such meetings would have an important impact on the tourism industry in the area; and if his Department has responded to the many submissions regarding this issue which were made by the Sligo Chamber of Commerce to his Department and to the Government over the past 18 months. [16101/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 38, 44, and Nos. 56 to 59 inclusive together as they deal with similar subject matter.
As I indicated to the House in response to questions on 6 February, 25 March, 30 May and 4 July, and in my statement on the Florence European Council and the Irish Presidency of the European Union on 26 June, three documents have been lodged in the Oireachtas Library on a regular basis:
a calendar of council meetings detailing all meetings of the Council of Ministers over the course of the Irish Presidency, together with meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and plenary sessions of the European Parliament. The location of all informal meetings of the Council of Ministers — which will be in Ireland — is contained on the list. All other meetings of the Council of Ministers will take place in Brussels, with the exception of those in the month of October which will take place in Luxembourg. Draft agendas for council meetings during the Irish Presidency have been lodged in the Oireachtas Library;
a list of Presidency related meetings to be held in Ireland, which identifies the county in which these meetings will take place and the title of the meetings; and,
the schedule for Intergovernmental Conference related meetings during our Presidency.
These documents are updated regularly and I will continue to lodge updates in the Oireachtas Library on a regular basis.
In addition to the meetings which are listed in these calendars, the Taoiseach indicated in his report to the House on 26 June 1996 that the Florence European Council considered that it would be desirable to hold a special meeting of the European Council during the Irish Presidency. The Taoiseach indicated the willingness of the Irish Presidency to host and organise such a meeting. When the details of this meeting have been finalised, the information will be included in the calendar of council meetings. The normal European Council of our Presidency will take place in Dublin on 13-14 December.
Deputies will have received copies of the document "Priorities for the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union". This document details the priorities of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union for each Council formation. Copies of this document have also been lodged in the Oireachtas library.
No representations have been received in my Department from Sligo Chamber of Commerce regarding the possibility of hosting Presidency related meetings in County Sligo or in the North West Region.