I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together.
The Ministers and Secretaries General group on EU policy, which I chair, meets approximately every four to six weeks. As part of its general supervisory role in relation to EU policy, the group is responsible for co-ordinating the Irish approach to key European issues, including Agenda 2000. We are in a period of intense negotiations on the next round of Structural, Cohesion and agricultural funds. In recognition of this, the Government has established a Cabinet subcommittee, which I chair, on Agenda 2000 specifically to co-ordinate the Government position on the main elements of negotiations on the next round of EU funding as they develop. This committee is serviced by an expert technical group, which I also chair, and comprises senior officials from my Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of Finance. This group has met twice and prepared a number of papers for the Cabinet subcommittee. The smaller more frequent meetings of the subcommittee, and its technical group, will allow for much greater engagement by the key Ministers in the detailed strategy of the negotiations.
The German Presidency has underlined its determination to reach agreement on the Agenda 2000 package by the end of March. To achieve this aim, there will be an informal Heads of State and Government meeting on 26 February. After this meeting the Presidency intends to bring all strands of the negotiations together in advance of the special summit meeting in Berlin on 24 and 25 March.
In addition to the groups mentioned, the Department of the Taoiseach participates in policy formulation and follow-up on key issues arising in the EU agenda, such as Structural and Cohesion Fund negotiations, agriculture funds, enlargement, EMU, institutional reform, employment, justice, freedom and security and external relations of the EU through a variety of interdepartmental groups and fora.
EU policy formulation is the product of liaison between my Department and the other key Government Departments, notably, Foreign Affairs; Finance; Agriculture and Food; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. My Department also liaises with the offices of other EU Heads of State and Government and their embassies in Dublin. Through this network of contacts the Department advises me on the views of our European partners and contributes to the development of EU policies.