Mrs Nora Owen, Minister for Justice of Ireland today made an official visit to the Court of Justice of the European Communities in the context of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Following a discussion with the President of the Court Gil Carlos Rodríguez Iglesias, the Minister met the Irish Members of the Court, John Murray, President of the Fourth Chamber and Advocate General Nial Fennelly.

That meeting was followed by a round table discussion with the President and several other Members of the Court. The discussions raised several issues concerning the rôle and functioning of the institution, in view, in particular of the intergovernmental conference. After the discussions the President of the Court expressed his satisfaction as to the valuable exchange of views on these matters.

Following lunch offered by the Court, the Irish delegation took part in a round table discussion with Mr Antonio Saggio, President of the Court of First Instance and other Members of that Court.