Written answers

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Diplomatic Representation

9:00 pm

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 99: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the EU Council of Ministers on which he sits; the number of meetings of that Council that have been held between 2007 and 2011; the number of those meetings that he attended; the number that were attended by the relevant Minister of State; the number that were attended by an Irish official; and if he will provide the names of those who attended in tabular form. [5469/12]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Council of the European Union is a key decision-making institution of the EU, at whose meetings all EU Member States are represented. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have represented Ireland frequently at Council meetings. Since March 2011, I have attended 3 Foreign Affairs Councils, 1 General Affairs Councils and 2 informal meetings of Foreign Ministers, the so-called "Gymnich" meetings.

Between December 2009 – March 2011, Ministers of Foreign Affairs attended 5 meetings of the General Affairs Council and 5 meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. Between January 2007 – December 2009, when the Lisbon Treaty entered into force, Ministers of Foreign Affairs attended 21 meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. Between January 2007 – March 2011, Ministers of Foreign Affairs attended 6 "Gymnich" meetings. In 2010, the Minister for Foreign Affairs attended one European Council (to which Ministers of Foreign Affairs were invited).

On the occasions when a Minister of Foreign Affairs was unable to attend these meetings, Ireland has normally been represented by a Ministerial colleague, generally the Minister for State for European Affairs.

Since March 2011, the Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D. has attended 4 Foreign Affairs Councils and 9 General Affairs Councils.

Between December 2009 – March 2011, Ministers of State attended 7 meetings of the General Affairs Council and 6 meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. Between January 2007 – December 2009, when the Lisbon Treaty entered into force, Ministers of State attended 11 meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. Between January 2007 – March 2011, Ministers of State attended 2 "Gymnich" meetings

In addition, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D. represented Ireland at 1 meeting of the General Affairs Council (Cohesion Policy).

On 8 occasions between January 2007 – March 2011, it was not possible for any Minister or Minister of State to attend one of these Council meetings. On these occasions, Ireland was represented by the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the European Union.

Full details of attendance, at meetings of the General Affairs Council, Foreign Affairs Council, General Affairs and External Relations Council and "Gymnichs", are listed below.

It was the practice up until the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009 for Foreign Ministers to attend European Council meetings. Between January 2007 and December 2009, Ministers for Foreign Affairs attended 12 European Council meetings.

2011

DateMeetingIrish representation
31 JanuaryGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsPermanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
31 JanuaryForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsPermanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
21 FebruaryGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsPermanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
21 FebruaryForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsPermanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
11/12 MarchInformal Foreign Affairs Council, BudapestTánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
21 MarchGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
21 MarchForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
12 AprilForeign Affairs Council, LuxembourgTánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
13 AprilGeneral Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
23 MayGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
23 MayForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
20 JuneForeign Affairs Council, LuxembourgTánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
21 JuneGeneral Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
18 JulyForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsTánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
18 JulyGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
2/3 SeptemberInformal Foreign Affairs Council, PolandTánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.
12 SeptemberGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsTánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Eamon Gilmore T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
10 OctoberForeign Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
11 OctoberGeneral Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton T.D.
22 OctoberGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
15 NovemberGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
1 DecemberForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
5 DecemberGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Ms. Lucinda Creighton
16 DecemberGeneral Affairs Council (Cohesion), BrusselsMinister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D.

2010

DateMeetingIrish representation
25 JanuaryGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
25 JanuaryForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development, Mr. Peter Power T.D.
22 FebruaryGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
22 FebruaryForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
5-6 MarchInformal Foreign Affairs Council, SpainMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.
22 March 2010General Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D..
22 March 2010Foreign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D..
26 AprilGeneral Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
26 AprilForeign Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.Minister for Defence, Mr. Tony Killeen T.D.
10 MayGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
10 MayForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
14 JuneGeneral Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.
14 JuneForeign Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for Overseas DevelopmentMr. Peter Power T.D.
26 JulyGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
26 JulyForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
10 SeptemberForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
10-11 SeptemberInformal Foreign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.
13 SeptemberGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsPermanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr. Rory Montgomery
16 SeptemberSpecial European Council (with Foreign Ministers invited),BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.
25 OctoberGeneral Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
25 OctoberForeign Affairs Council, LuxembourgMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
22 NovemberGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
22 NovemberForeign Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D.
13 DecemberGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.
14 DecemberGeneral Affairs Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for EU Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.

2009

DateMeetingIrish representation
26 JanuaryGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,BrusselsMinister for Foreign AffairsMr. Micheál Martin T.D.
23 FebruaryGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,BrusselsMinister for Foreign AffairsMr. Micheál Martin T.D.
16 MarchGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,BrusselsPermanent Representative of Ireland to the EU,Mr. Bobby McDonagh
27-28 MarchInformal Foreign Affairs Council, Czech RepublicMinister of State with special responsibility for European AffairsMr. Dick Roche T.D.
27-28 AprilGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,LuxembourgMinister for Foreign AffairsMr. Micheál Martin T.D.
18-19 MayGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,BrusselsMinister of State with special responsibility for European AffairsMr. Dick Roche T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for Overseas DevelopmentMr. Peter Power T.D.
15-16 JuneGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,LuxembourgMinister for Foreign AffairsMr. Micheál Martin T.D.
27 JulyGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,BrusselsMinister of State with special responsibility for European AffairsMr. Dick Roche T.D.
4-5 SeptemberInformal Foreign Affairs Council, StockholmMinister for Foreign AffairsMr. Micheál Martin T.D.
14-15 SeptemberGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,BrusselsMinister of State with special responsibility for European AffairsMr. Dick Roche T.D.
26-27 OctoberGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,LuxembourgMinister for Foreign AffairsMr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for European AffairsMr. Dick Roche T.D.
16-17 NovemberGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,BrusselsMinister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for Overseas Development,Mr. Peter Power T.D.
30 NovemberGeneral Affairs & External Relations Council,GenevaMinister of State with special responsibility for Trade and Commerce,Mr. Billy Kelleher
7 DecemberGeneral Affairs Council,BrusselsMinister for Foreign AffairsMr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for European AffairsMr. Dick Roche T.D.
8 DecemberForeign Affairs Council,BrusselsMinister for Foreign AffairsMr. Micheál Martin T.D.Minister of State with special responsibility for European AffairsMr. Dick Roche T.D.

2008

DateMeetingIrish representation
28 JanuaryGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche T.D.
18 FebruaryGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.
10 MarchGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D. Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr John McGuinness T.D.
28-29 MarchInformal Foreign Affairs Council, SloveniaMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.
29 AprilGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, LuxembourgMinister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr John McGuinness T.D.
13 MayGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsPermanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr Bobby McDonagh
26-27 MayGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Martin T.D. Minister for Defence, Mr Willie O'Dea T.D.Minister of State for Overseas Development, Mr Peter Power T.D.
16 JuneGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, LuxembourgMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Martin T.D.
18 & 21 JulyGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels (18 July) & Geneva (21 July)Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade, Mr John McGuinness T.D. Minister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche T.D.
22-29 JulyGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, Brussels & GenevaTánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Ms Mary Coughlan T.D.Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Martin T.D. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Mr Brendan Smith T.D., Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr John McGuinness T.D.
13 AugustGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development, Mr Peter Power T.D.
5-6 SeptemberInformal Foreign Affairs Council, FranceMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Martin T.D.
15-16 SeptemberGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr John McGuinness T.D.
13 OctoberGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, LuxembourgMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Martin T.D.
10-11 NovemberGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Martin T.D. Minster for Defence, Mr Willie O'Dea T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Overseas Development, Mr Peter Power T.D.
8-9 DecemberGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Michael Martin T.D.

2007

DateMeetingIrish representation
22 JanuaryGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr Noel Treacy T.D.
12 FebruaryGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Trade & Commerce, Mr Michael Ahern T.D.
5 MarchGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr Noel Treacy T.D.
30-31 MarchInformal Foreign Affairs Council, BremenMinister of State with Special Responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Conor Lenihan T.D.
23-24 AprilGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, LuxembourgMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.
14-15 MayGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsPermanent Representative of Ireland to the EU, Mr Bobby McDonaghSecretary-General of Department of Defence, Mr Michael HowardDirector General of Development Cooperation in Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ronan Murphy
17-18 JuneGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, LuxembourgMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dick Roche T.D.
23-24 JulyGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dick Roche T.D.
7-8 SeptemberInformal Foreign Affairs Council, PortugalMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.
15-16 OctoberGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, LuxembourgMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.
19-20 NovemberGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.Minister for Defence, Mr Willie O'Dea T.D.
10 DecemberGeneral Affairs and External Relations Council, BrusselsMinister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D.Government Chip Whip & Minister of State at Department of Defence, Mr Tom Kitt T.D.

Section to follow:

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.