Commissioner features at EU Dáil sessions

The EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel yesterday addressed the Dáil and answered questions from TDs during a special day devoted to European issues in which the normal business was suspended.

Ms Fischer Boel spoke in the chamber about a wide range of EU issues — particularly on agriculture — including the current round of negotiations at the World Trade Organisation, the dairy industry in Ireland, the problems posed by the demise of the sugar industry and the Nitrates Directive.

In another break from tradition, TDs were encouraged to speak without scripts and questions submitted by the public were answered by deputies.