European Council Meetings

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Questions (114)

Simon Harris

Question:

114. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the formations of the EU Councils of Ministers on which he sits; the number of meetings of that Council held from 9 March 2011 to date in 2012; the number of those meetings he attended; the number attended by a Minister of State; the number attended by an Irish official; and if he will provide the names of those who attended in tabular form. [56548/12]

View answer

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Council of the European Union is a key decision-making institution of the EU, at whose meetings all EU Member States are represented. Since 9 March 2011, I have represented Ireland at 12 meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and 4 meetings of the General Affairs Council. In addition, I have also attended 4 informal meetings of Foreign Ministers, the so-called “Gymnich” meetings.

When I have been unable to attend these meetings, Ireland has been represented by a Ministerial colleague, generally the Minister for State for European Affairs.

Since 9 March 2011, the Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D. has represented Ireland at 5 meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. and 17 meetings of the General Affairs Council.

In addition, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D. represented Ireland at one meeting of the General Affairs Council dedicated to Cohesion Policy.

Details of attendance, at meetings of the General Affairs Council, the Foreign Affairs Council and “Gymnichs” since 9 March 2011, are listed as follows.

2012

Date	Meeting	Irish representation
11 December 2012	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 T.D.
10 December 2012	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
20 November 2012	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 T.D.
19 November 2012	Foreign 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 T.D.
16 October 2012	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
15 October 2012	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	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 T.D.
24 September 2012	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 T.D.
7-8 September 2012	Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Cyprus	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
24 July 2012	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
23 July 2012	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
26 June 2012	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
25 June 2012	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
29 May 2012	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
14 May 2012	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
24 April 2012	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
23 April 2012	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
26 March 2012	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
23 March 2012	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
9-10 March 2012	Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Copenhagen	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
28 February 2012	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
27 February 2012	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
27 January 2012	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
23 January 2012	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.

2011 (9 March – end 2011)

Date	Meeting	Irish representation
16 December 2011	General Affairs Council (Cohesion), Brussels	Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D.
5 December 2011	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
1 December 2011	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
15 November 2011	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
22 October 2011	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
11 October 2011	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
10 October 2011	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
12 September 2011	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 T.D.
2/3 September 2011	Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Poland	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
18 July 2011	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
18 July 2011	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
21 June 2011	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
20 June 2011	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
23 May 2011	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
23 May 2011	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
13 April 2011	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
12 April 2011	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
21 March 2011	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
21 March 2011	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
11/12 March 2011	Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Budapest	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.