Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of European Council meetings that his predecessor was entitled to attend in the year before 9 March 2011; the dates of such meetings; in each case, if his predecessor attended the meeting or if the meeting was attended by officials in his place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7445/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The euro group and the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) usually meets monthly, although they can meet more frequently, if required. Finance Ministers of the seventeen Eurozone Member States meet in the Eurogroup on the eve of Ecofin meetings to discuss economic, monetary and other issues that relate to the euro area. There were in addition a number of meetings of a Ministerial level taskforce which was established to consider the Van Rompuy Taskforce on Economic Governance. Eurozone and Ecofin Ministers also participated in some teleconferences during 2010.

The attached table at Annex 1 sets out the details of all Eurogroup, Taskforce and Ecofin meetings for the twelve months prior to 9th March 2011.

Annex 1

Eurogroup / Ecofin Representation

March 2010 - 8th March 2011

NOTE: A number of Ecofin meetings that the Minister could not attend took place on the same day as Government meetings in Dublin, which the Minister for Finance had to attend.