74 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he or any of his Department's officials have made official visits to Mauritania in the past four years; if so, the purpose of the visit or visits; the number of people who travelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10017/02]

There have been no ministerial or departmental visits to Mauritania. An official of my Department attended the first round of EU-Mauritanian fisheries negotiations held in June 2001 in Mauritania, as a member of the EU delegation comprising the Commission and member states.