Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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874. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the EU Council meeting in Brussels on Monday 27 January; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2917/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels on 27 January 2025. I was pleased to have an early opportunity to meet with several of my fellow Ministers and also with the new EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, who visited Ireland recently.

The Council held discussions on strengthening the position of the farmer in the food supply chain, CAP simplification, and EU trade. There were also a number of “Any Other Business” items.

Following a presentation from the Commissioner on two legislative proposals that aim to further strengthen the position of farmers in the agri-food supply chain, I emphasised my support for the Commission’s initiatives in this regard.

As part of the exchange of views on the potential simplification of certain elements of the current CAP Strategic Plans, I called for the EU to concentrate on changes that will make the biggest impact for farmers and administrations in reducing administrative burdens.

In the discussion on agri-food trade issues, I highlighted the importance of trade for Irish and EU farmers and the wider food and drinks industry. However, I stressed that when negotiating trade agreements, the EU must protect our most vulnerable sectors. In that context, I raised Irish concerns regarding the EU-Mercosur Agreement and noted that it is difficult to justify any agreement to EU farmers if we are not satisfied that other farmers are subject to the same high standards requiring them to farm in a sustainable manner.

I will work closely with my counterparts in the run up to Ireland’s EU Presidency in the second half of 2026. I am committed to ensuring that Ireland has a strong and credible voice in EU decision-making on a range of important issues which will impact the agri-food and fisheries sectors.