Vol. 572 No. 3
244 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the meetings, formal and informal, of European Union Councils relevant to his position or portfolio held since June 1997; the number of such meetings personally attended by him; and the details of the person who led the Irish delegation at such Council meetings when not attended by him. [23326/03]
The ECOFIN Council, which consists of Ministers for economy and finance, meets practically every month, with two of the meetings each year being informal. Since taking office as Minister for Finance in June 1997, there have been 79 meetings of the ECOFIN Council. Of these 79 meetings, I have attended 73 meetings. I have attended all the informal meetings.
When I was unable to attend, the Irish delegation was headed up on one occasion by the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, on two occasions by Ms Anne Anderson, Ireland's Permanent Representative to the European Union, on one occasion by Mr. Denis O'Leary, Ireland's former Permanent Representative to the European Union and on two occasions by Mr. James Brennan, formerly Ireland's Deputy Permanent Representative to the European Union.
The Deputy will be aware that last year the Budget Council, which met twice a year to progress the annual EU budget for the succeeding year, was absorbed into the ambit of the ECOFIN Council. In accordance with normal practice, the Minister of State at my Department led the Irish delegation at Budget Council and now leads the Irish delegation at the twice yearly additional ECOFIN meetings specifically dedicated to the EU budget. The people in question are the former Minister of State, now Minister, Deputy Cullen, and the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon. The Irish delegation at the Budget Council in December 1998 was headed up by the then Minister of State at the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, the former Deputy Byrne.
The European Council of Heads of State or Government normally meets four times a year. From time to time, when there is a relevant item regarding finance on the agenda, I have accompanied the Taoiseach at these meetings. I have attended 16 of these meetings since June 1997.
