Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 May 2013
160. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Minister or Minister of State that represented Ireland at the Ministerial Council meetings of the European Union during the Irish Presidency of the Council to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26209/13]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the policies of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy are dealt with under one Council formation – Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE). In my role as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I sit on the Energy Council and the Telecommunications Council. I chaired an Energy Council meeting on 22 February 2013, which Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd also attended. An Energy Informal Ministerial meeting was held in Dublin on 23 and 24 April 2013 which I chaired and the Minister of State also attended.
There has been no meeting this year to date of the Telecommunications Council. However that Council will meet on 6th June and will be followed by a further Energy Ministers’ Council on 7 June. I also chaired the Pre-Council meeting of Education, Youth, Culture, and Sport meeting of Audio Visual Ministers on 17 May in Brussels. In addition to chairing the Councils mentioned above and the Pre EYCS Council meeting, I would mention that since January I addressed some 15 meetings and conferences connected with the telecommunications and energy sectors as part of my role as Chair of these Councils. As well as attending energy related events the Minister of State also attended five meetings across different sectors including on youth and the environment.
