Busy St Patrick’s Day ahead for Coveney as he heads to Brussels

PROTECTING the Irish agri-food sector against the threat of a Mercosur deal is top of the agenda for Agriculture, Marine and Food Minister Simon Coveney as he attends his first EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels today.

Aptly enough, the St Patrick’s Day summit has an agenda packed with subjects of interest to Irish farmers.

The ministers are due to examine draft council conclusions on the communication from the commission on the future of the CAP after 2013, the Mercosur trade negotiations, the approval of three GMO applications and the market situation for the dairy sector.

Mr Coveney said: “I am meeting Agriculture Commissioner Ciolos bilaterally before the council meeting. I intend to raise with him three of the substantive issues we will discuss at the Council meeting: CAP reform, Mercosur and the dairy sector.

“I will also be meeting separately with ministerial colleagues affiliated to the European People’s Party to discuss CAP reform and the new EU multi-annual financial framework.”

Before heading to Brussels, Mr Coveney held his first meeting with IFA President John Bryan to discuss the issues cited above, plus a new AEOS scheme for farmers leaving REPs.

Mr Bryan said: “Minister Coveney understands the damaging implications of a Mercosur deal and knows the importance of Ireland safeguarding our national herd.

“When he attends his first Farm Council meeting in Brussels, the minister will convey Ireland’s concerns in relation to Mercosur.”