The main focus for my Department in the Irish Presidency of the EU is the meetings of the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of the EU. These meetings, which I chair on behalf of the Presidency, are held once a month over the six months of the Presidency. Most of the meetings are in Brussels or Luxembourg, but the informal meeting between 2 and 4 April takes place in Punchestown, County Kildare.
This meeting will be among the largest meetings to take place in Ireland over the period of the Presidency. It will be attended by some 300 delegates and up to 400 media personnel. The national delegations from the 25 member states of the enlarged EU will be led by Ministers for Finance and central bank governors in each case. The attendance will also include a number of Commissioners, among them President Prodi, and other distinguished representatives of EU institutions, including Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank. Security is a prime concern in an event of this importance. As part of this, Garda motorcycle escorts will be provided for the transportation of delegations. Coach transfers will be used to the maximum extent possible. Invitations have been issued by post, fax and e-mail.
It is estimated that the direct Exchequer cost of the event, including venue hiring, venue fit-out, media facilities, hotel accommodation of delegates, transport, catering, hospitality, security, etc., will be of the order of €500,000. This is net of a contribution to the cost by the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland, reflecting the participation of central bank governors in the meeting. Holding a meeting of this scale and importance and ensuring that it is carried off in a manner that reflects well on the country is unavoidably expensive. Where ECOFIN Council meetings are held in Brussels or Luxembourg, the cost falls mainly on the EU.
The other main meetings in Ireland arising for my Department in the Presidency are:
Date
|
Meeting
|
Venue
|
Est. Cost (€)
|
26/27 February
|
Regional Ministers Meeting
|
Portlaoise
|
380,000
|
1 / 2 March
|
Asia-Europe Finance Deputies Meeting (ASEM)
|
Cork
|
60,000
|
27/28 May
|
Public Administration Directors General Meeting
|
Dublin Castle
|
76,000
|