58 Mr. Barry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the EU ministerial committees that will hold meetings outside Dublin during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in the second half of 1996; the arrangements, if any, that are needed to complete Ireland's preparations, especially those that may be necessary to cater for the major influx of foreign journalists covering specific events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5663/96]

A draft calendar of meetings of the Council of Ministers has been drawn up which indicates the dates of all formal and informal Council meetings during the forthcoming Irish Presidency. All formal meetings of the Council will be held in either Brussels of Luxembourg. The calendar includes the venues of the seven informal Council meetings, scheduled to take place in Ireland. Of the seven informal Council meetings, two will be held outside Dublin: one in Killarney and one in Tralee. It is of course the responsibility of each Minister to decide the venue of each individual informal Council meeting the or she will be holding. A copy of the draft calendar of Council meetings was lodged in the Oireachtas Library in February.