During the period in question there were a total of six meetings of the Council for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs which is the relevant formation for the Department of Social Protection. 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; and Education and Skills. 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 this period the Minister, along with Department Officials, attended three meetings of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council. A further meeting was attended by a Department Official.
The remaining meetings were not attended by the Minister for Social Protection, and no officials from the Department travelled to these meetings. However, officials from the Permanent Representation (including the attaché from the Department of Social Protection) would have attended these meetings.