Vol. 576 No. 2
69 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the meetings, conferences or seminars, that will be held under the auspices of his Department during Ireland's Presidency of the European Union in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29214/03]
I plan to hold six monthly meetings of the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in Brussels and Luxembourg. Preparations for them will be carried out as required at meetings of the Special Committee on Agriculture, COREPER and various Council working groups. COREPER is chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and my Department's officials will chair the remaining meetings. My Department will also be responsible for chairing meetings to co-ordinate the EU position to be taken in a number of international fora, including OECD, FAO and Codex Alimentarius.
There will be an informal Agriculture Council meeting in Killarney from 9 to 11 May. There will also be meetings of the chief veterinary officers in Kilkenny from 19 to 22 April, the Special Committee on Agriculture will meet in Killarney from 9 to 11 May and directors of the EAGGF paying agencies will meet in Dublin from 26 to 28 May.
