Written question asked by Andrew Mackinlay (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 January 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 15 January 2003. It was answered by Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 January 2003 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his policy is on ministers from his Department attending events in conjunction with ministers from the Republic; and how this policy was applied with reference to the invitation to join Pat Gallaher TD at the launch of the Confederation of European Councillors Year Book at Newry on 7th January.

Answer: Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on Ministers from his Department attending events in conjunction with Ministers from the Republic; and how this policy was applied with reference to the invitation to join Pat Gallagher TD at the launch of the Confederation of European Councillors' Year Book at Newry on 7 January. [90105] Mr. Paul Murphy: Where diary commitments permit, I, and my ministerial team, seek to accept as many invitations to events as we are able to. No Northern Ireland Office Minister attended the event in Newry on 7 January 2003 to launch the Confederation of European Councillors' Year Book and Diary 2003, as there is no record of an invitation to the event having been received by any Northern Ireland Office Minister.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 90105; 397 c689W;397 c686-7W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Attendance Northern Ireland Publications Ministers Republic of Ireland Domestic visits Northern Ireland Office Newry Confederation of European Councillors Diaries
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk