Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 April 2011
308 Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Defence the number of European Council meetings that his predecessor was entitled to attend in the year before 9 March 2011; the dates of such meetings; in each case if his predecessor attended the meeting or if the meeting was attended by officials in his place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7441/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no separate Defence Ministers' Council. However, twice a year – once during each Presidency – Defence Ministers attend the Foreign Affairs Council, which comprises of Foreign Affairs Ministers of Member States. In 2010, there were two meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council with Defence Ministers. The then Minister, Tony Killeen attended the meeting in Luxembourg on 26 April 2010. The Secretary General Michael Howard, attended the meeting in Brussels on 9 December 2010 in place of the Minister I will attend the next Foreign Affairs Council with Defence Ministers in Brussels on 24 May 2011.
