Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the formations of the EU Councils of Ministers on which he sits; the number of meetings of that council held from 9 March 2011 to date in 2012; the number of those meetings he has attended; the number attended by a Minister of State; the number attended by an Irish official; and if he will provide the names of those who attended in tabular form. [19994/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In my capacity as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, I sit on the European Council of Environment Ministers.

In the period from 9 March 2011 to date, the European Council of Environment Ministers met formally on five occasions and informally on three other occasions, the latest of which took place in Denmark last week. I attended all of these meetings. In general, the Assistant Secretary in the Environment Division, and relevant officials depending on the meeting agenda, also attend, along with officials from the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU.