European Council Meetings

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Ceisteanna (96)

Simon Harris

Ceist:

188 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the formations of the EU Councils 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 Irish official; and if he will provide the names of those who attended in tabular form. [19996/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore)

The Council of the European Union is a key decision-making institution of the EU, at whose meetings all EU Member States are represented. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I have represented Ireland frequently at Council meetings. Since March 2011, I have attended 7 Foreign Affairs Councils, 1 General Affairs Council and 3 informal meetings of Foreign Ministers, the so-called "Gymnich" meetings.

On the occasions when I have been unable to attend, Ireland has been represented by a Ministerial colleague, generally the Minister of State for European Affairs. Since March 2011, Minister of State Creighton has attended 5 Foreign Affairs Councils and 10 General Affairs Councils.

Full details of attendance, at meetings of the General Affairs Council, the Foreign Affairs Council and the "Gymnichs", are listed below:

2012

Date	Meeting	Irish representation
23 January	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
27 January	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
27 February	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
28 February	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
9-10 March	Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Copenhagen	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
23 March	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
26 March	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
23 April	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
24 April	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.

2011

Date	Meeting	Irish representation
11/12 March	Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Budapest	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
21 March	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
21 March	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
12 April	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade,Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
13 April	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
23 May	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
23 May	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
20 June	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
21 June	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
18 July	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
18 July	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
28 July	Informal Meeting of Ministers and State Secretaries for European Affairs, Poland	Minister of State with special responsibility for Public Service Reform and the OPW (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) and with special responsibility for international tax issues and customs reform (Department of Finance), Mr. Brian Hayes T.D.
2/3 September	Informal Foreign Affairs Council, Poland	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
12 September	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D. Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
10 October	Foreign Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
11 October	General Affairs Council, Luxembourg	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
22 October	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
14 November	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
15 November	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
1 December	Foreign Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
5 December	General Affairs Council, Brussels	Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms Lucinda Creighton T.D.
16 December	General Affairs Council (Cohesion), Brussels	Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D.