Vol. 543 No. 2
641 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason she did not attend the EU Informal Council of Culture Ministers on 18 and 19 May 1999; the public engagement she undertook that day which necessitated her absence; and the agenda and outcome of the meetings. [26792/01]
I was not in a position to attend this informal meeting of culture Ministers due to important business at Cabinet on 18 May. Informal meetings of Ministers are hosted by the member state holding the Presidency of the European Union. These meetings provide the opportunity for political debate on various issues identified by the Presidency of being of particular importance. The German Presidency identified three areas for informal discussions at the meeting in question – the financial framework for the Culture 2000 Framework. culture and employment and European history and identity. There are no decisions taken at informal Council meeting and the Deputy will appreciate that, in those circumstances, attendance at the Cabinet meeting rather than the informal Council had to be my priority.
