Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2012
778 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the formations of the EU Council of Ministers on which he sits; the number of meetings of that council held from 9 March 2011 to date in 2012; the number of those meetings he has attended; the number attended by a Minister of State; the number attended by an official; and if he will provide the names of those who attended in tabular form. [20003/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI participate at the Transport formation of the Transport, Telecoms and Energy Council. Since March 2011, there have been 5 formal Transport Council meetings, all of which I have attended along with officials from my Department and the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU.
Minister of State Michael Ring T.D. has delegated responsibility in relation to EU matters relating to Sport and he has attended one of the two formal Council meetings of Sports Ministers scheduled since March 2011. He was unable to attend the Council meeting in May 2011 owing to diary commitments associated with the visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II. The Deputy Permanent Representative attended the meeting in his place.
The Competitiveness Council deals with tourism-related issues from time to time. My colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, T.D., represents Ireland at the Competitiveness Council. There have been no significant issues relating to tourism at this Council since March 2011.
The information requested is set out in tabular form below:
|
Council Meeting |
Date |
Minister attending |
Lead Official attending |
|
Transport Council |
31 March 2011 |
Minister Varadkar |
Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR), Geraldine Byrne Nason |
|
Sports Council |
19 May 2011 |
— |
DPR Geraldine Byrne Nason |
|
Transport Council |
16 June 2011 |
Minister Varadkar |
DPR Geraldine Byrne Nason |
|
Transport Council |
6 October 2011 |
Minister Varadkar |
DPR Tom Hanney |
|
Sports Council |
29 November 2011 |
Minister of State Ring |
DPR Tom Hanney |
|
Transport Council |
12 December 2011 |
Minister Varadkar |
DPR Tom Hanney |
|
Transport Council |
22 March 2012 |
Minister Varadkar |
DPR Tom Hanney |
