Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 April 2011
429 Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of Council of the European Union 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. [7452/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere were four such Transport Council meetings that Minister Dempsey was entitled to attend in the 12 months before 9 March 2011. The details are:
11th March 2010 — Minister Dempsey did not attend as he was travelling to represent the Government for St. Patrick's Day; he was represented by a senior official of his Department.
24th June 2010 — Minister Dempsey did attend.
15th October 2010 — Minister Dempsey did attend.
2nd December 2010 — Minister Dempsey did not attend due to the extreme weather conditions which disrupted air travel between Ireland and Europe but he was represented by a Department representative based in Brussels.
Also, I would like to make the Deputy aware that since my appointment as Minister there has been one Transport Council meeting on the 31st of March 2011 which I attended.
