Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the forthcoming EU Council meeting on agriculture and fisheries, AGRI FISH, and the sea fisheries sustainability impact assessment. I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, and his officials. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. In keeping with our examination of EU matters in relevant policy areas the Minister will brief the committee in advance of next week's AGRI FISH Council meeting. I invite the Minister to make an opening statement. I presume he wants to deal with fish first.