From the beginning of 2007 there have been ten meetings of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of the European Union. It is the practice for the Employment and Social Affairs items to be taken on one day of this two day meeting, and Health and Consumer Affairs to be taken separately on the other. In relation to the former, the subject matter covers topics which span the interests of a number of Irish government departments — Social Protection; Enterprise, Trade and Innovation; and Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Representation at the Council is decided on the basis of the items to be discussed, and it is often the case that Ministerial attendance from this Department is not considered necessary.
During the period in question Minister Hanafin attended two meetings of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, with officials from this Department attending five others.