I assume the Deputy is referring to official departmental receptions hosted either by myself or the Ministers of State at my Department. Since the change of Government on 15 December 1994, I hosted one official reception for the chairpersons and acting chief executive officers of the 35 city and county enterprise boards which was held on 2 February 1995. The reception preceded the offical launch of the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development by the Taoiseach on the same day.
Two official receptions are planned for the remainder of 1995. The first will be to mark the second North-South Irish Innovation Lecture which will take place in Dublin Castle on 16 October next. The second will be held on the occasion of a meeting of one of the bodies of the Administrative Council of the European Patents office, which will be held on dates yet to be finalised during the autumn in Dublin.
During 1994, a total of six official receptions were hosted, as follows:—