Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - EU Meetings.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

141 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the name of the European Council of Ministers, if any, relevant to her Department; the number of council meetings she has attended since taking office; the number of meetings attended by an official or permanent representative in her absence; the number of meetings she has had with her equivalent European Ministers outside the Council of Ministers format since tak ing office; if officials from her Department meet regularly with Commission or other national officials; if so, the regularity with which they meet; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6724/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to meetings of the European Council of Ministers is set out in the following table:

European Council of Ministers of	Number of meetings	Number attended by Minister	Number attended by Minister of State	Number attended by Official/Permanent Representative
Transport	8	8	–	–
Energy	5	1	4	–
Telecommunications	5	3	1	1

I have met with my European ministerial counterparts outside of European Council meetings on eight occasions since I took office and the Minister of State, Deputy Jacob, has had five such meetings.

Officials of my Department meet with Commission and/or other national officials on a regular basis either directly or as members of technical and expert working groups established under the aegis of the European Commission. The frequency of such meetings varies, according to the subject matters and the degree of urgency involved. Informal contacts are also made when the need arises.