Minutes Silence at Meeting of Council of Ministers

Minutes Silence at Meeting of Council of Ministers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney has on behalf of the Irish Presidency expressed her deepest sympathy to the Spanish Government and its people following the terrorist attack in Madrid early today.

The Tánaiste, presiding at a meeting of Competitiveness Council Ministers in Brussels said "We in Ireland know only too well the devastation that is perpetrated by terrorist atrocities and we empathise with the pain and suffering being felt by the Spanish people at this time.

Before commencing today's meeting the Tánaiste called for a minute silence as a mark of sympathy and respect for all those killed and injured

Ends

11^th March 2004