Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - EU Meetings.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

347 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform 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. [6732/99]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The relevant Councils are the Justice and Home Affairs Council and the Labour and Social Affairs Council when dealing with issues which are the responsibility of my Department. Since taking up office, I have attended seven meetings of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. On one occasion I was represented by the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Mary Wallace. I was also represented at one Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting by the permanent representative of Ireland to the European Union. The Minister of State, Deputy Wallace, has attended one meeting of the Labour and Social Affairs Council.

As regards meetings with EU Ministers outside the Council format, no such meetings have taken place in relation to specific EU issues although, of course, informal meetings do take place occasionally en marge of the Council to consider issues of common interest.

Officials from my Department meet regularly with officials from the Commission and from the other member states, especially in the context of the regular meetings of the numerous working groups and committees operating within the framework of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Other meetings take place as appropriate.