Minister Dooley attends AgriFish Council in Luxembourg
- Published on: 23 June 2025
- Last updated on: 23 June 2025
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, is today representing Ireland at the AgriFish Council meeting in Luxembourg. Topics under discussion will include trade related agricultural issues, and the simplification package for the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Speaking in Luxembourg before the Council meeting Minister Dooley stressed:
“Ensuring stability and certainty for the sector should be a priority as we look forward to the next CAP, and the best way to achieve this is by building on the existing CAP, including the changes proposed in this simplification package.”
On trade, Minister Dooley said:
“I look forward to discussing the benefits of trade for the agri-food sector, particularly for Ireland’s export-focused agri-food sector, while also highlighting our specific concerns in relation to the Mercosur agreement and the risks associated with US trade policy.”
Fisheries
Fisheries Ministers will tomorrow (Tuesday) discuss the state of play of sustainable fishing in the EU, as well as orientations for 2026 fishing opportunities. Minister Dooley noted:
"While there has been significant improvement in terms of overall sustainability, unfortunately, some of our key fish stocks remain in a vulnerable state. We must take the necessary steps to protect and rebuild these stocks, while navigating the complexities of mixed fisheries management.”
Minister Dooley, along with Fisheries Ministers from Sweden and the Netherlands, will call on the Commission to continue its efforts to resolve outstanding fisheries issues with Norway:
“We must do all that we can to safeguard the stocks upon which our fishermen and women depend, and to send a clear message that actions which threaten the sustainability of our shared stocks are not acceptable to the EU.”
Anticipating a presentation by Commissioner Kadis of the Ocean Pact, Minister Dooley commented:
“Our marine space holds enormous potential, if it is managed in a sensible and coherent manner.”