James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his main areas of interest on the agenda for the Agriculture Council meeting in October 2009 in Luxembourg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36308/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The next meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council is scheduled to take place on 19th and 20th October. The provisional agenda indicates that it will deal with both agriculture and fisheries items. As regards agriculture, the main item to be discussed is the situation in the dairy market. The Commission proposals on short term measures to address the current crisis in the sector will be presented and discussed. The proposed measures include the extension of the existing emergency powers provision in the single Common Market Organisation Regulation to the milk sector and amending the current rules on quota buy-up schemes to provide for the ring fencing of super levy collected on bought-up quota, for national restructuring measures. The Commission will also present its quarterly report on the dairy market.

The other agriculture item relates to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The Council will be asked to decide on three proposals on the placing on the market of products containing, consisting of or produced from genetically modified maize for food and feed and for the same use as any other maize with the exception of cultivation.

In so far as fisheries is concerned, political agreement will be sought on a proposal to establish a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy (CFP). Political agreement will also be sought on a Regulation fixing fishing opportunities for fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2010 and there will an exchange of views on the EU/Norway annual consultations for 2010. A significant proportion of the Council will be taken up with trilateral meetings on the control Regulation.

All matters discussed at Council are of interest to Ireland and this Council is no exception. I am particularly interested to hear the Commission analysis of the dairy market and I look forward to participating actively in the discussions around the Commission report, the proposals and the situation in the sector in general. Discussions on the dairy sector are not however confined to Council and as well as the usual Council preparatory meetings including the Special Committee on Agriculture, the situation in the dairy sector is being considered at Ministerial level by a group of 21 Member States including Ireland with a view to establishing a common position. In addition a High Level Group mandated to examine the medium to long term future of the EU dairy sector has been established. This Group which had its first meeting on Tuesday of this week will meet monthly between now and next June when it will present its final report. It is also intended to hold consultations with stakeholders starting at the next months meeting.

Equally the fisheries items are of great significance to Ireland and again I will be participating fully in the discussions to ensure the best possible outcome from an Irish perspective. I will be abstaining on the proposals on GMOs.