The Council of the European Union is a key decision-making institution of the EU, at whose meetings all EU Member States are represented. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have represented Ireland frequently at Council meetings. Since March 2011, I have attended 3 Foreign Affairs Councils, 1 General Affairs Council and 2 informal meetings of Foreign Ministers, the so-called "Gymnich" meetings.
Between December 2009-March 2011, Ministers of Foreign Affairs attended 5 meetings of the General Affairs Council and 5 meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. Between January 2007-December 2009, when the Lisbon Treaty entered into force, Ministers of Foreign Affairs attended 21 meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. Between January 2007-March 2011, Ministers of Foreign Affairs attended 6 "Gymnich" meetings. In 2010, the Minister for Foreign Affairs attended one European Council (to which Ministers of Foreign Affairs were invited).
On the occasions when a Minister of Foreign Affairs was unable to attend these meetings, Ireland has normally been represented by a Ministerial colleague, generally the Minister for State for European Affairs.
Since March 2011, the Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D. has attended 4 Foreign Affairs Councils and 9 General Affairs Councils.
Between December 2009-March 2011, Ministers of State attended 7 meetings of the General Affairs Council and 6 meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. Between January 2007-December 2009, when the Lisbon Treaty entered into force, Ministers of State attended 11 meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. Between January 2007-March 2011, Ministers of State attended 2 "Gymnich" meetings.
In addition, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D. represented Ireland at 1 meeting of the General Affairs Council (Cohesion Policy).
On 8 occasions between January 2007-March 2011, it was not possible for any Minister or Minister of State to attend one of these Council meetings. On these occasions, Ireland was represented by the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union.
Full details of attendance, at meetings of the General Affairs Council, Foreign Affairs Council, General Affairs and External Relations Council and "Gymnichs", are listed below.
It was the practice up until the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009 for Foreign Ministers to attend European Council meetings. Between January 2007 and December 2009, Ministers for Foreign Affairs attended 12 European Council meetings.
2011
|
Date
|
Meeting
|
Irish representation
|
|
31 January
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
|
|
31 January
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
|
|
21 February
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
|
|
21 February
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
|
|
11/12 March
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Budapest
|
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
|
|
21 March
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
21 March
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
12 April
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
|
|
13 April
|
General Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
23 May
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
23 May
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
20 June
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
|
|
21 June
|
General Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
18 July
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
|
|
18 July
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
2/3 September
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Poland
|
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
|
|
12 September
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D. Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
10 October
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
|
|
11 October
|
General Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
|
|
22 October
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
15 November
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
1 December
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
5 December
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton
|
|
16 December
|
General Affairs Council (Cohesion), Brussels
|
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D.
|
2010
|
Date
|
Meeting
|
Irish representation
|
|
25 January
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
25 January
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power T.D.
|
|
22 February
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
22 February
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
5-6 March
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Spain
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
22 March 2010
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
22 March 2010
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
26 April
|
General Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
26 April
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.Minister for Defence, Mr. Tony Killeen T.D.
|
|
10 May
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
10 May
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
14 June
|
General Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
14 June
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power T.D.
|
|
26 July
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
26 July
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
10 September
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
10-11 September
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
13 September
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
|
|
16 September
|
Special European Council (with Foreign Ministers invited), Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
25 October
|
General Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
25 October
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
22 November
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
22 November
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
13 December
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
14 December
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
2009
|
Date
|
Meeting
|
Irish representation
|
|
26 January
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
23 February
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
16 March
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Bobby McDonagh
|
|
27-28 March
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Czech Republic
|
Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
27-28 April
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
18-19 May
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power T.D.
|
|
15-16 June
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
27 July
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
4-5 September
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Stockholm
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.
|
|
14-15 September
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
26-27 October
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
16-17 November
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council,Brussels
|
Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power T.D.
|
|
30 November
|
General Affairs & External Relations Council, Geneva
|
Minister of State with special responsibility for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Billy Kelleher
|
|
7 December
|
General Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
8 December
|
Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
2008
|
Date
|
Meeting
|
Irish representation
|
|
28 January
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
18 February
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.
|
|
10 March
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr. John McGuinness T.D.
|
|
28-29 March
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Slovenia
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.
|
|
29 April
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr. John McGuinness T.D.
|
|
13 May
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Bobby McDonagh
|
|
26-27 May
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Martin T.D.Minister for Defence, Mr. Willie O’Dea T.D.Minister of State for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power T.D.
|
|
16 June
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Martin T.D.
|
|
18 & 21 July
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels (18 July) & Geneva (21 July)
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade, Mr. John McGuinness T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
22-29 July
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels & Geneva
|
Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Ms Mary Coughlan T.D.Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Martin T.D.Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Mr. Brendan Smith T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr. John McGuinness T.D.
|
|
13 August
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power T.D.
|
|
5-6 September
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, France
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Martin T.D.
|
|
15-16 September
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr. John McGuinness T.D.
|
|
13 October
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Martin T.D.
|
|
10-11 November
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Martin T.D.Minster for Defence, Mr. Willie O’Dea T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power T.D.
|
|
8-9 December
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Michael Martin T.D.
|
2007
|
Date
|
Meeting
|
Irish representation
|
|
22 January
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Noel Treacy T.D.
|
|
12 February
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr. Michael Ahern T.D.
|
|
5 March
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Noel Treacy T.D.
|
|
30-31 March
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Bremen
|
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Conor Lenihan T.D.
|
|
23-24 April
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.
|
|
14-15 May
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Permanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Bobby McDonagh, Secretary-General of Department of Defence, Mr. Michael Howard, Director General of Development Cooperation in Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ronan Murphy
|
|
17-18 June
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
23-24 July
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
|
|
7-8 September
|
Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Portugal
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.
|
|
15-16 October
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Luxembourg
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.
|
|
19-20 November
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister for Defence, Mr. Willie O’Dea T.D.
|
|
10 December
|
General Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels
|
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.Government Chief Whip & Minister of State at Department of Defence, Mr. Tom Kitt T.D.
|
