Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - EU Meetings.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

276 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government 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. [6729/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The European Council of Environment Ministers generally deals with environmental policy and legislation relevant to my Department. I have attended five of six meetings of the Environment Council since I took office. In my unavoidable absence, the Council was attended by my colleague, Deputy Dan Wallace, Minister of State at my Department in March 1998.

In addition I attended two informal meetings of the Council of Environment Ministers which were held since I took office.

I have met with my European counterparts on eight occasions outside the format of the Environment Council, mainly in the course of attendance at other international meetings or in bilateral situations.

Officials from my Department regularly attend meetings organised by the Commission or which take place under the aegis of the Environment Council. The frequency of these meetings, normally attended by the Commission and officials from all member states, varies widely depending on the topic under discussion.

Formal weekly meetings of the Environment Council working group at official level are attended by an official of my Department seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs and based at the Irish permanent representation to the EU in Brussels.