Written Answers. - Official Engagements.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
214
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Finance
if he will list each EU Council of Ministers meeting since July 1997 at which he was entitled to attend; and, in respect of each such meeting, if he attended or another Minister, a Minister of State, or another person represented him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19073/01]
The Councils relevant to my Department are the Economic and Finance Ministers' Council or ECOFIN, the Budget Council and the European Council.
There have been 45 formal meetings of ECOFIN since July 1997 and I have attended all of these meetings. In addition, there have been nine informal meetings of ECOFIN ministers since July 1997 and I have attended all of these meetings.
It is normal for Ireland to be represented at the Budget Council by a Minister of State and I have continued with this practice.
ECOFIN Ministers can take part in the working sessions of the European Council at the invitation of the Presidency, alongside heads of State or Government and Ministers for Foreign Affairs. This has been the case on ten occasions since July 1997 and I have attended all of these European Council meetings.
The list of meetings requested by the Deputy is as follows:
Dates of Meetings of the ECOFIN Council since July 1997
15 June 2001; 5 June 2001; 7 May 2001; 22 March 2001; 12 March 2001; 12 February 2001; 19 January 2001; 26/27 November 2000; 7 November 2000; 17 October 2000; 29 September 2000; 17 July 2000; 18/20 June 2000; 5 June 2000; 8 May 2000; 13 March 2000; 28 February 2000; 31 January 2000; 29 November 1999; 8 November 1999; 8 October 1999; 12 July 1999; 25 May 1999; 10 May 1999; 15 March 1999; 8 February 1999; 18 January 1999; 31 December 1998; 1 December 1998; 23 November 1998; 12 October 1998; 6 July 1998; 5 June 1998; 19 May 1998; 3 May 1998; 1 May 1998; 21 April 1998; 9 March 1998; 16 February 1998; 19 January 1998; 1 December 1997; 17 November 1997, 5 November 1997; 13 October 1997; 7 July 1997.
Dates of Informal Meetings of Economy and Finance Ministers since July 1997
20/22 April 2001; 8/9 September 2000; 7/8 April 2000; 9 December 1999; 10/12 September 1999; 16/8 April 1999; 25/27 September 1998; 20-22 March 1998; 12/14 September 1997.
Dates of Budget Council Meetings since July 1997
23/24 November 2000; 20 July 2000; 25/26 November 1999; 16 July 1999; 8 December 1998; 24 November 1998; 17 July 1998; 27 November 1997; 24 July 1997.
Dates of European Council Meetings Since July 1997
15/16 June 2001; 23/24 March 2001; 19/20 June 2000; 23/24 March 2000; 10/11 December 1999; 3/4 June 1999; 24/25 March 1999; 11/12 December 1998; 15/16 June 1998; 12/13 December 1997.
