Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of Council of Ministers meetings attended by Ministers at his Department for each of the past three years in tabular form; the number of decisions made by the Council at those meetings; the number of occasions on which those decisions were decided upon by a vote; the number of occasions on which Ireland voted against a decision which was adopted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19038/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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There are only two formal Councils of Ministers which make decisions in relation to matters under the remit of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Education, Youth and Culture Council generally meets twice a year to discuss Cultural issues. Tourism issues are dealt with by the Competitiveness Council which my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, T.D., attends. Sport is not a Community competence at present although it is the subject of informal meetings of Sports Ministers.

Since May 2005, there have been six meetings of the Education, Youth and Culture Council at which cultural matters were discussed. In all cases, Ireland was represented by the Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU as my predecessors were unable to attend because of other diary commitments.

Decisions are normally made on a consensus basis. Ireland has not voted against any decision over the three years in question. Our approach, in line with the national approach generally, is to advance our interests through the process of negotiation.

The conclusions of EU Council configurations may be found on the EU's website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu