Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of Council of the European Union's meetings that he was entitled to attend in the past three years; the number of Council meetings he attended; the number of same that were attended by officials in his place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19130/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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From the beginning of 2007 there have been ten meetings of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of the European Union. 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. 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 the period in question Minister Hanafin attended two meetings of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, with officials from this Department attending five others.