Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:130 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's responsibilities in relation to the EU Council when it assumes the EU Presidency in 2004. [31578/03]
Written Answers. - EU Presidency.
Irish Government Ministers will be responsible for chairing Council meetings and for organizing and managing the work of the Council during our forthcoming EU Presidency.
As Presidency, members of the Government and officials will work to build consensus and gain agreement on proposals in the various Council formations. Ministers and officials will also represent the Council in negotiations with the European Parliament on legislation in which the European Parliament is often an equal partner with the Council. The Presidency also acts as spokesperson and is a key interlocutor for the Union on external relations matters.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:131 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's responsibilities in relation to the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council when it assumes the EU Presidency in 2004. [31579/03]
The General Affairs and External Relations Council is chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the country holding the Presidency. During Ireland's Presidency, we will draw up the agenda for each meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council and will be responsible for preparing, organising and managing its work.
As Presidency, Ireland will also represent the Council in meetings with third countries and will act as spokesperson for the EU during its term.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:132 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's responsibilities in relation to the EU Political and Security Committee when it assumes the EU Presidency in 2004. [31580/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:140 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the Political and Security Committee meetings scheduled for 6, 9, 13, 20, 23, 27 and 30 January 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31588/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:141 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the Political and Security Committee meetings scheduled for 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24 and 27 February 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31589/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:142 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the Political and Security Committee meetings scheduled for 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 23 and 30 March 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31590/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:143 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the Political and Security Committee meetings scheduled for 2, 6, 20, 23, 26, 27 and 30 April 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31591/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:144 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the Political and Security Committee meetings scheduled for 4, 7, 14, 18, 25 and 28 May 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31592/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 132, 140 to 144, inclusive, together.
The Political and Security Committee, PSC, consists of representatives appointed to the Committee by the member states and the European Commission. The EU High Representative, or his representative, also attends meetings of the committee. All PSC meetings take place in Brussels. The PSC can meet at any time but scheduled meetings take place consistently twice a week and then as required. There are periodic meetings between the PSC and representatives of third countries and international organisations such as the UN, NATO and the OSCE. As Presidency, Ireland will also lead the PSC in troika format – the Irish Presidency, the incoming Dutch Presidency and the Commission – which meets with a number of key regional groups and third countries throughout the six months of the Presidency. The PSC also occasionally holds informal meetings.
As regards sponsorship for the Presidency, the sponsorship arrangements reported to this House in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 101 of 11 December 2003 are primarily for meetings in Ireland. Therefore, meetings at senior official level taking place in Brussels, including the regular PSC meetings, will not, in the main, benefit from these arrangements, although Kerrygold products are expected to be available at meeting venues in Brussels. Ministerial and senior official meetings taking place in Ireland may benefit from these sponsorship arrangements and this would include an informal meeting of the PSC, which will take place in Ireland during the Presidency.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:133 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the Government EU Commission meeting scheduled for 6 January 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31581/03]
The Government-Commission meeting on 6 January 2004 will take place in Dublin Castle. It will take the form of bilateral meetings between Government Ministers and Ministers of State chairing Councils during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union and their Commission counterparts. This will be followed by a plenary session co-chaired by the Taoiseach and President Prodi. Apart from these meetings there are no other formal or informal side meetings envisaged. A list of the Government and Commission delegations can be read below. A number of officials will also attend.
As announced last week, Eircom, Audi, Tipperary Natural Spring Water and Kerrygold have agreed to become sponsors of the Presidency. It is expected that products and services supplied by these companies will be available for this meeting.
Irish Government Delegation
|
Mr. B. Ahern TD |
Taoiseach |
|
Ms. M. Harney TD |
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment |
|
Mr. B. Cowen TD |
Minister for Foreign Affairs |
|
Mr. D. Ahern TD |
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources |
|
Mr. C. McCreevy TD |
Minister for Finance |
|
Mr. S. Brennan TD |
Minister for Transport |
|
Mr. J. O'Donoghue TD |
Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism |
|
Mr. M. Martin TD |
Minister for Health and Children |
|
Mr. J. Walsh TD |
Minister for Agriculture |
|
Ms. M. Coughlan TD |
Minister for Social and Family Affairs |
|
Mr. M. Cullen TD |
Minister for Environment and Local Government |
|
Mr. N. Dempsey TD |
Minister for Education and Science |
|
Mr. M. McDowell TD |
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform with responsibility for equality issues |
|
Mr. É. Ó Cuív TD |
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs |
|
Mr. M. Smith TD |
Minister for Defence |
|
Mr. D. Roche TD |
Minister of State for European Affairs |
|
Mr. T. Kitt TD |
Minister for State with special responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights |
|
Mr. M. Ahern TD |
Minister of State at D/ETandE with special responsibility for Trade and Commerce |
|
Mr. F. Fahey TD |
Minister of State at D/ETandE with special responsibility for Labour Affairs including Training |
|
Mr. W O'Dea T.D. |
Minister for State at D/JEandLR with special responsibility for Equality issues |
Commission Delegation
|
Romano Prodi |
President |
|
Neil Kinnock |
Vice-President, AdministrativeReform |
|
Loyola de Palacio |
Vice-President, Transport and Energy |
|
Pedro Solbes Mira |
Economic and Monetary Affairs |
|
Frits Bolkestein |
Internal Market |
|
Erkki Liikanen |
Enterprise and Information Society |
|
Philippe Busquin |
Research |
|
Pascal Lamy |
International Trade |
|
Mario Monti |
Competition |
|
Chris Patten |
External Relations |
|
Gunter Verheugen |
Enlargement |
|
Poul Nielson |
Development and Humanitarian Aid |
|
Michel Barnier |
Regional Policy |
|
Michaele Schreyer |
Budget |
|
David Byrne |
Health and Consumer Protection |
|
Anna Diamantopoulou |
Employment |
|
Margot Wallstrom |
Environment |
|
Viviane Reding |
Education and Culture |
|
Franz Fischler |
Agriculture and Rural Development |
|
Antonio Vitorino |
Justice and Home Affairs |
134.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting scheduled for 26-27 January 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31582/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:135 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting scheduled for 23-24 February 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31583/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:136 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting scheduled for 22-23 March 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31584/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:137 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting scheduled for 26-27 April 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31585/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:138 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting scheduled for 17-18 May 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31586/03]
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:139 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the location at which the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting scheduled for 14-15 and 28-29 June 2004 will take place, with respect to the Irish Presidency of the European Union; if associated formal or informal side meetings are scheduled to take place in relation to this meeting; the persons who are likely to attend these meetings; and the details of private sponsorship of aspects of these meetings that have been agreed to date. [31587/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 139, inclusive, together.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, meets in Brussels during January, February, March and May and meets in Luxembourg in April and June.
A first draft of the respective agendas of these meetings is currently being finalised and will be circulated to partners in the near future. These agendas will also list the meetings which are scheduled to be held on the margins of the council. When these agendas are available they will be forwarded to the Oireachtas. The draft agendas are kept under review and amended in light of developments closer to the date of the council meetings. Amended versions will also be forwarded to the Oireachtas in due course.
I normally attend meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council and, during the Presidency, will chair the council's meetings. The Minister of State, Deputy Roche, will be the Irish national representative at meetings of the council during our Presidency. The Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, will attend Council meetings where items coming within his area of responsibility are on the agenda. Relevant officials will also attend these meetings as appropriate. Attendance at meetings to be held on the margins of the council will depend upon the nature of the meeting concerned and the relevant agenda.
Concerning sponsorship, as I announced last week, Eircom, Audi, Tipperary Natural Spring Water and Kerrygold have agreed to become sponsors of the Presidency. Kerrygold products will be available for all meetings in Ireland and Brussels. However, as the sponsorship arrangements with the other companies are primarily for meetings in Ireland, it is not expected that products and services supplied by these companies under such arrangements will be availed of at meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.
Questions Nos. 140 to 144, inclusive, answered with Question No. 132.