Since my appointment on 29 September 2004, I have attended one foreign conference. This conference was entitled, International Meat Conference, and was held on 14 October 2005 in Rome. The attendance at this conference was timed to coincide with a meeting with the Italian Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Alemanno, to discuss a number of issues including the reform of the EU sugar regime and the agriculture aspects of the forthcoming WTO talks due to take place in Hong Kong in December.
I also participated in a promotional event for Irish beef and lamb at Ipercoop Casalino — Ipermercato Via Casalina, 00169 Rome, organised by Bord Bia. I was accompanied during this visit by a party of three.