Louis J. Belton
Question:41 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of ministerial meetings of the Council of Europe held since June 1997; and the Irish Minister who attended each of these meetings. [8237/98]
Vol. 489 No. 4
41 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of ministerial meetings of the Council of Europe held since June 1997; and the Irish Minister who attended each of these meetings. [8237/98]
The Department of Foreign Affairs has responsibility for meetings of the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe's decision making body, which comprises the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 40 member states or their Permanent Representatives. The Committee of Ministers meets at ministerial level twice a year in Strasbourg. In the case of Ireland these meetings have usually been attended by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, or in their absence by our Permanent Representative.
Only one such ministerial level meeting has taken place since June 1997. Ireland was represented at that meeting by our Permanent Representative.