Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 361: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the date for each year since 2000 of pre-budget meetings held with the Department of Finance and the Department of An Taoiseach; the attendees at such meetings; if an agenda was circulated in advance; if minutes of such a meeting were kept; if not, the reason for same; if officials were directed not to keep minutes of such meetings; if so, by whom and the date of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter [17556/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Frequent informal contacts take place and meetings are held on an ongoing basis between officials in my Department and in the Department of Finance in the preparation of the annual Estimates provisions for the Department. It is also the practice for Ministers to meet with the Minister for Finance in the final stages of the Estimates negotiations. On these occasions, my predecessors were accompanied by the Ministers of State in the Department and by senior officials.

The regular and informal nature of official contacts means that, in general, such meetings are not formally minuted. However, conclusions are normally noted and briefing may be prepared on points agreed and issues outstanding prior to the meetings with the Minister for Finance. No direction has been issued to officials in relation to the keeping of minutes of such meetings. Given the on-going nature and content of the discussions, formal agendas are not normally circulated in advance of the meetings between Ministers.

In relation to Ministerial bilateral meetings, my predecessors met with the Minister for Finance on 31st October, 2007, 20 September, 2006, 29 September, 2005, 13 October, 2004 and 8 October, 2003. The dates of the bilateral meetings prior to 2002 are not readily available. There were no separate meetings with An Taoiseach in relation to the Estimates discussions.