Seán Haughey
Ceist:12 Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions, if any, he has had to date with the current EU Council Presidency. [3181/95]
Written Answers. - EU Council Presidency Discussions.
I met the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Juppé, the President-in-Office of the General Affairs Council, in Dublin on 20 January. Mr. Juppé's visit was one in a series of visits to his colleagues in the European Union at the outset of the French Presidency. The purpose of the visit was to brief partners on the priorities of the French Presidency. Mr. Juppé also called on the Taoiseach.
Mr. Juppé outlined and confirmed the five priorities of the French Presidency which are growth and employment, the social dimension, security and stability in Europe, affirmation of European culture and identity and the first stage of preparations for the Intergovernmental Conference in 1996.
I indicated our agreement with these priorities and promised our broad support to the French Presidency in exercising its responsibilities and in its efforts to advance the Union's agenda.
This meeting was part of the normal process of ongoing bilateral contacts at both political and official level between the Irish authorities and the French Presidency.
In addition to such bilateral contacts, there are, of course, regular dealings at all levels with the Presidency in the course of the normal conduct of the business of the European Union in Brussels and elsewhere.