HC Deb 22 June 1999 vol 333 c343W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [87430]

Mr. Chris Smith

I met the Irish Culture Minister, Sile de Valera, on 17 June 1999 at my office—at the Department. She was accompanied by Tadhg O hEalaithe, Secretary General to the Department for the Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting met Seamus Brennan TD, Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Taoiseach's office, on Monday 5 October 1998, again at the Department. Mr. Brennan was accompanied by Richard Holland from that office.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Sport met Chris Flood, the Irish Junior Minister for Sport, at the Annual Dinner of London GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) at the Emerald Rooms at the Emerald Gaelic Grounds, West End Road, Ruislip on 13 February 1999, and Dr. James McDaid, the Irish Minister for Sport, at the Sports Industry Exhibition, Earls Court on 24 February 1999. My hon. Friend met Dr. McDaid again at the EU Sports Ministers conference in Paderborn on 31 May 1999.