EU Presidency.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004

Tuesday, 23 March 2004

Ceisteanna (188)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

188 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the number of locations and status of functions or receptions held in connection with Ireland’s Presidency of the EU; the number and status of those invited to attend; if Garda motorcycle escorts were provided in any or all instances; if invitations were issued by way of postal service or by other means in every case; if not, the nature of the exception; the cost to the Exchequer or EU of events to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9181/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The main focus for my Department in the Irish Presidency of the EU is the meetings of the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of the EU. These meetings, which I chair on behalf of the Presidency, are held once a month over the six months of the Presidency. Most of the meetings are in Brussels or Luxembourg, but the informal meeting between 2 and 4 April takes place in Punchestown, County Kildare.

This meeting will be among the largest meetings to take place in Ireland over the period of the Presidency. It will be attended by some 300 delegates and up to 400 media personnel. The national delegations from the 25 member states of the enlarged EU will be led by Ministers for Finance and central bank governors in each case. The attendance will also include a number of Commissioners, among them President Prodi, and other distinguished representatives of EU institutions, including Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank. Security is a prime concern in an event of this importance. As part of this, Garda motorcycle escorts will be provided for the transportation of delegations. Coach transfers will be used to the maximum extent possible. Invitations have been issued by post, fax and e-mail.

It is estimated that the direct Exchequer cost of the event, including venue hiring, venue fit-out, media facilities, hotel accommodation of delegates, transport, catering, hospitality, security, etc., will be of the order of €500,000. This is net of a contribution to the cost by the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland, reflecting the participation of central bank governors in the meeting. Holding a meeting of this scale and importance and ensuring that it is carried off in a manner that reflects well on the country is unavoidably expensive. Where ECOFIN Council meetings are held in Brussels or Luxembourg, the cost falls mainly on the EU.

The other main meetings in Ireland arising for my Department in the Presidency are:

Date	Meeting	Venue	Est. Cost (€)
26/27 February	Regional Ministers Meeting	Portlaoise	380,000
1 / 2 March	Asia-Europe Finance Deputies Meeting (ASEM)	Cork	60,000
27/28 May	Public Administration Directors General Meeting	Dublin Castle	76,000