§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what power she has to request the Fisheries Council to reconvene. [150912]
§ Mr. BradshawMeetings of the Fisheries Council and all other formations of the Council are convened by the incumbent Presidency (currently Ireland) which publishes a schedule of planned meetings in advance. Any member state or the commission can request the Presidency to call a special meeting of the Council, in addition to the planned schedule of meetings, but such requests are rare. The Irish Presidency has already scheduled meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council for February, March, April, May and June 2004.