Five major meetings have taken place in Dublin under the auspices of my Department since the commencement of the Irish Presidency of the European Union on 1 January 2004. That figure does not include my Department's busy schedule of meetings in Brussels. Several other high-level bilateral meetings have also taken place in Dublin. Details of my Department's main meetings, including the Justice and Home Affairs Informal Ministerial Council, which was held in January, are available on the Irish Presidency web site, www.eu2004.ie.
Three hundred and twenty delegates, including 49 Ministers, attended the Justice and Home Affairs Informal Ministerial Council in Dublin. That was the only meeting to date where Garda motorcycle escorts were provided. Attendance at the other four meetings amounted to a total of 400 delegates. The numbers attending the bilateral meetings varied considerably depending on the nature of the meeting. Official participation at meetings was at senior official and national expert level. Invitations were issued by post and by e-mail.
Expenditure to date in my Department for the management and operation of the business of the Irish Presidency, including pay and associated costs, is approximately €1.1 million. That is in line with planned expenditure.
