Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for 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 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. [56546/12]

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 in 2012 , the European Council of Environment Ministers met formally on eight occasions and informally on four other occasions. I attended all of these meetings. The dates of these meetings and a record of Ministerial attendance are set out in the tables below. 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.