HC Deb 06 July 1999 vol 334 c500W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 January 1998, indicating the dates and locations, the Ministers involved and the names of the Irish Ministers and officials in each case. [87432]

Mr. Nick Brown

Since 1 January 1998, Ministers in my Department have held meetings with Ministers of the Irish Government on four occasions.

The then Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Copeland (Mr. Cunningham) met Mr. Joe Walsh the Irish Minister of Agriculture on 18 June 1998 in London and I met him on 13 November 1998 in Dublin.

Lord Donoughue met Joe Walsh on 17–19 April 1998 in Dublin and on 17 June 1999 in London.

In addition, informal discussions take place from time to time in the margins of Agriculture Councils.