A fair sight to see

Date: 11/01/1996

Ireland is determined to make the most of its presidency. The government has already pencilled in seven informal ministerial meetings, not to mention the European summit in Dublin castle in December. Three of the informals will be outside the capital, so that all concerned can delight in the Irish countryside.

Host ministers like to show off their own constituencies, not least to impress their voters that they can attract Europe's movers and shakers to their own small corner of the globe. Not surprisingly, EU foreign ministers will gather in the scenic setting of Tralee for their informal meeting, in the heart of the Kerry North constituency represented by Irish Foreign Minister, Tanaiste and Labour leader Dick Spring. Environment ministers will meet in Wexford, home of their Irish colleague Brendan Howlin.

One problem is the meeting of agriculture ministers, set to meet in Killarney in South Kerry. Nothing wrong with that: it's a wonderful setting with good facilities already tested. But it is not the constituency of Agriculture Minister Ivan Yeats, from Wexford, which has already been bagged by Mr Howlin. Sorry Ivan, but two Wexfords into one presidency won't go.