Minister Heydon and Minister of State Dooley to attend Agriculture and Fisheries Council
- Published on: 11 December 2025
- Last updated on: 8 February 2026
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, will attend the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday).
Minister Heydon will address the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) at the Council meeting.
Speaking ahead of the meeting in Brussels, Minister Heydon said:
“Today’s meeting offers a valuable opportunity to consider the direction of the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). I intend to use this occasion to highlight our concerns and to engage constructively with my counterparts. I also wish to recognise the substantial efforts of the Danish Presidency in progressing the CAP regulation and I look forward to working closely with Cyprus as they move into the Presidency role in January. Moving this work forward will also be a central priority for Ireland during our Presidency.
“As this process enters the next phase, my focus is on ensuring a workable framework that gives farmers stability and confidence while avoiding unnecessary administrative burden. The future of the CAP is vital in safeguarding the continued viability of our farmers and rural communities.”
Minister Heydon will hold a series of bilateral meetings with EU counterparts to discuss shared priorities and areas of mutual interest, including with German Federal Minister for Agriculture, Food and Community - Alois Rainer, Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture - Hendrik Johannes Terras and Slovakian Minister for Agriculture - Richard Takáč.
Minister Heydon concluded:
“The main focus of this Council will be negotiations on the Fishing Opportunities for next year. I will work with Minister of State Dooley to secure the best outcome possible for the Irish fishing sector.”
Minister of State Dooley said:
“Most of Ireland’s fish stocks are shared with Third Countries. The outcome of the negotiations between the EU and the UK and Norway, while not perfect, represents a balanced result overall. Now we must turn our attention to important internal EU matters, in particular the Hague Preferences.”
Ministers Heydon and Dooley met with representatives of Ireland’s fishing industry in Brussels ahead of the Council, where industry groups outlined their priorities.
The Ministers will engage intensively with the Fisheries Commissioner, Costas Kadis, and fellow Ministers over the coming days.