Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this morning's meeting is a briefing from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, on the negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy, which were concluded towards the end of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. I congratulate the Minister, his officials and the permanent staff in Brussels and Ireland on the way in which they conducted the business. Had it been taking place in any other country, we might have had a difficulty finishing it by the end of June.

I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person in the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I apologise for the late change of venue to Room 2 in Leinster House. There was a little bit of uncontrollable water in our normal committee room, despite the dry weather. I understand this is quite a historic table, as it is a table that was previously used by the Cabinet.