Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 606: To ask the Minister for Defence 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. [19992/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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There is no separate Defence Ministers' Council within the EU Council of Ministers. However, twice a year - once during each Presidency - Defence Ministers attend the formal Foreign Affairs Council. These Council meetings are held in Brussels at the invitation of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Since 9 March, 2011 there have been three such meetings on 23rd May 2011, 30th November 2011 and 22nd March 2012. Personally, due to other work commitments, I was only in a position to attend the meeting held on 30th November, 2011 and none have been attended by a Minister of State on my behalf. The others were attended, on my behalf, by the Secretary General of my Department. The delegation at each of these meetings is contained in the following tabular statement.