Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 295: To ask the Minister for Defence 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. [19122/10]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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There is no separate Defence Minister's Council. However, twice a year – once during each presidency – Defence Ministers attend the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting, which comprises Foreign Ministers of the member States – now called the Foreign Affairs Council following the coming into effect of the Lisbon Treaty. Since January 2007, there have been seven such meetings, four of which have been attended by the Minister for Defence. The other three were attended by a senior official from the Department.