Eight events have been organised by my Department or agencies under its aegis in Ireland and one in Brussels since the Presidency began. The number of locations used for functions or receptions in conjunction with these eight events is eight.
To date, 654 persons approximately have attended Presidency health events. The attendees at events have included: member and accession state Health Ministers accompanied by senior policy and medical advisers; members of the advisory forum and management board of the European Food Safety Authority; experts from the competent authorities for the authorisation of medical devices from the EU member and accession and states and three EFTA countries; member state chief medical officers; representatives at policy making and expert level from member states in the area of cardiovascular health; representatives of non-governmental organisations and other stakeholder groups in the area of cardiovascular health; representatives of the World Health Organisation; representatives of the European Commission; representatives of the Irish food sector; and staff from the Department, the permanent representation of Ireland to the EU, the Irish Medicines Board, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Food Safety Promotion Board. Garda motorcycle escorts were not requested or provided in respect of these events.
Invitations to the events concerned were issued by post and e-mail by my Department, the Irish permanent representation in Brussels, agencies under my Department's aegis and the European Food Safety Authority in the relevant cases. The costs invoiced or paid to date in respect of these events by my Department or agencies under its aegis is €267,478.
