Written Answers. - European Council Meetings. – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Tuesday, 14 Oct 2003

534.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the meetings, formal and informal, of European Union Councils relevant to her position or portfolio held since June 1997; the number of such meetings personally attended by her; and the details of the person who led the Irish delegation at such Council meetings when not attended by her. [23336/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan): The EU Council formation which relates to my portfolio is the Council of Ministers for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs, previously Labour and Social Affairs. A range of issues are dealt with by this Council formation but, in practice, the majority of the agenda items to date have concerned the employment area and the relevant Minister in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment would have the main responsibility in relation to attendance at the meetings in question.

There have been 42 meetings of this Council since June 1997. A list of these Councils, formal and informal and also joint meetings with other Council formations, the dates on which they were held and the Irish representative attending follows.

Where the social security items on the agenda have not been of a nature which would have warranted ministerial attendance from my Department at the Council meetings, senior officials of my Department and of the Permanent Representation to the EU, with responsibility in the social area, have attended the relevant meetings to provide briefing on the relevant issues.

Date	Representing Ireland
27 June 1997	Deputy Permanent Representative

7 October 1997	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

6 November 1997	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

17 November 1997	Minister for Finance, Mr. McCreevy, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Mr. Cullen, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

15 December 1997	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

12 and 13 March 1998	Deputy Permanent Representative

7 April 1998	Deputy Permanent Representative

3 and 4 June 1998	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. KittMinister for Health and Children, Mr. Martin

Date	Representing Ireland

7-9 July 1998	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

27 October 1998	Deputy Permanent Representative

20 November 1998	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

1 and 2 December 1998	Deputy Permanent Representative

9 March 1999	Deputy Permanent Representative

25 May 1999	Minister for Finance, Mr. McCreevy

8-10 July 1999	Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr. D. Ahern

22 October 1999	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

12 November 1999	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

29 November 1999	Deputy Permanent Representative

11 February 2000	Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr. D. Ahern

13 March 2000	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

8 May 2000	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

6 June 2000	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

8 July 2000	Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr. D. Ahern

17 October 2000	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt,Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. O'Donoghue

27 and 28 November 2000	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

20 December 2000	Deputy Permanent Representative

21-23 January 2001	Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Ms M. Wallace

6 March 2001	Deputy Permanent Representative

11 June 2001	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

6 and 7 July 2001	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

8 October 2001	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

3 December 2001	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

18-20 January 2002	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Kitt

7 March 2002	Deputy Permanent Representative

3 June 2002	Deputy Permanent Representative

12 July 2002	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Fahey

8 October 2002	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Fahey

2-3 December 2002	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Fahey

23-24 January 2003	Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan and Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Fahey

6 March 2003	Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan and Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Fahey

3 June 2003	Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan and Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Fahey

10-12 July 2003	Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan and Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Fahey

I will also be attending the next formal Council meeting on Monday, 20 October 2003.

Dáil Éireann debate - Tuesday, 14 Oct 2003

Written Answers. - European Council Meetings.

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 2003