Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food the extent and level of any discussions he has had with his EU colleagues in the context of EU food security and the discouragement of international speculation resulting in market manipulation, distortion and control of food industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17921/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In the context of discussions on the future direction of the Common Agricultural Policy, I have consistently emphasised the importance of security of food supplies and the need to maintain and increase the food production potential of the European Union. There is good support among my EU Ministerial colleagues for these arguments and I am pleased, in that respect, that preserving food production potential in the EU is one of the central themes of the Commission's communication of November last on the CAP towards 2020.

There is also growing recognition within the EU of imbalances along the food supply chain and the need to provide greater transparency and to eliminate market manipulation. I am a member of the EU High Level Group on Agri-competitiveness that was established to address these issues.

Discussions on food security have also taken place in recent months prior to the meeting of G20 agriculture ministers in Paris in mid-June 2011. This meeting produced an action plan to provide more market information and to improve regulation with a view to eliminating market abuses and reducing volatility in commodity markets. France holds the Presidency of the G20 and provided information to the Council of EU Agriculture Ministers earlier this week concerning the outcome of the G20 discussions.