9 Jun 2014, 15:23
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD is before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine tomorrow in advance of an important Council of Ministers meeting to be held later in the month.
9 June 2014
The Agri-fish Council meets in Luxembourg on 16 and 17 June and is scheduled to consider legislative proposals related to animal and plant health, organic farming and labelling. The Council meeting will also be addressed by the European Commission on fishing opportunities for 2015.
Committee Chairman Andrew Doyle says: “Our Committee has an important oversight role on the Government’s interaction with the European Union on policy related to agriculture and fisheries. We will engage with Minister Coveney on the approach he proposes to take at the forthcoming Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting. The meeting will consider a range of proposals relating to animal and plant health, which is fundamental to underpinning Europe-wide consumer confidence.”
Separately, the Committee will engage with Minister Coveney on the Report on
Deputy Doyle continues: The report, which flowed from an extensive series of sub-Committee meetings, called for government policy to focus on the survival of rural coastal and island communities by promoting a diverse range of activities. In adopting a holistic approach to the issue, the sub-Committee outlined how proactive government support, with proportionate and sensible bureaucratic controls, can ensure activities such as aquaculture, inshore fishing, sea angling, marine tourism and seaweed activities can contribute to vibrant coastal and island areas. We look forward to engaging with Minister Coveney on how the 29 practical recommendations in the report can be acted on.”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Tuesday 10 June 2014 at 2 pm in Committee Room 3, LH 2000. It can be viewed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
ENDS
View Committee Membership.
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926