Vol. 542 No. 2
419 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason she did not attend the EU Council of Culture Ministers meeting on 22 November 1999; the public engagements she undertook that day which necessitated her absence; and the agenda and outcome of that meeting of the Council of Ministers. [23639/01]
While I was in Brussels on 22 November 1999 for meetings with European Commission officials relating to agri-environment issues, I was unable to stay for the Council of Culture Ministers meeting on 23 November 1999 as I had important business at Cabinet on that date.
The agenda for the Council meeting in question is set out below for the Deputy's information and items 5-7 were formally adopted. I need hardly state that officials of my Department had ensured an appropriate input to the items at the earlier drafting and discussion stages. The Irish delegation at the Council meeting was led by the deputy permanent representative.
The Deputy will appreciate that given the important business relevant to my remit being taken at Cabinet on the day in question, attendance at that meeting rather than the Council meeting had to be my priority.
