asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government have any plans to have an Irish official working within the European Political Co-Operation unit formalised by the Single European Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - European Political Co-Operation.
34.
Under the terms of the Single European Act a small secretariat for European Political Co-operation was established in the Charlemagne Building in Brussels last year. It assists the Presidency of European Political Co-operation, under whose authority it acts, in implementing the activities of EPC and in administrative matters. The secretariat comprises a head of secretariat and five other officials drawn one each from the countries of the current Presidency and of the two preceding and two succeeding Presidencies respectively. In accordance with the rotation arrangements for these officials the Government will assign an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs to the EPC secretariat for a period of two and a half years from January 1989. Members of the secretariat have the same diplomatic status as that of officials of diplomatic missions in Brussels.