Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 1

Written Answers - European Central Bank.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

160 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if he has raised with President Chirac the proposal by France that the Governor of the Bank of France, Mr Jean Claude Trichet, be the first president of the European Central Bank instead of Mr. Wim Duisenberg, the President of the European Monetary Institute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4716/98]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

Mr. Jean-Claude Trichet was nominated as a candidate for the presidency of the European Central Bank by the French President and Prime Minister on 4 November last, in a letter to the President of the European Council. I received a copy of that letter courtesy of the Presidency.

I have had no further contacts with President Chirac on this matter.