Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 April 2011
378 Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of European Council meetings that his predecessor was entitled to attend in the year before 9 March 2011; the dates of such meetings; in each case if his predecessor attended the meeting or if the meeting was attended by officials in her place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7447/11]
View answerThe Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) Council normally meets in formal session on two occasions during each Presidency period of six months. Health matters are discussed in detail at one of these formal Councils.
There have been no formal EPSCO Council meetings in relation to health to date in 2011. Health matters were discussed at two formal EPSCO Councils in 2010 (7-8 June, 2010 and 6-7 December, 2010). The former Minister attended one informal meeting of health Ministers during 2010. I understand that her attendance at the formal meetings was not possible due to urgent Government business, including the fact that the December meeting coincided with Budget Day.
