Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - EU Meetings.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

168 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the name of the European Council of Ministers, if any, relevant to his Department; the number of council meetings he has attended since taking office; the number of meetings attended by an official or permanent representative in his absence; the number of meetings he has had with his equivalent European Ministers outside the Council of Ministers format since taking office; if officials from his Department meet regularly with Commission or other national officials; if so, the regularity with which they meet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6726/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The European Council of Ministers relevant to my Department is the Agriculture Council. Since taking office as Minister for Agriculture and Food on 26 June 1997, I have attended all 22 of the formal and informal Agriculture Council meetings that have taken place. I have also had ten bilateral meetings with my ministerial colleagues and five meetings with the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. In addition, I have had many bilateral meetings during formal and informal Council meetings.

The officials from my Department regularly meet officials of the Commission and of other member states at meetings of management committees, expert groups, working groups and other groups representative of the member states and the Commission. In addition, my officials meet bilaterally with officials of the Commission and of other member states as required.