My weekly update - Main contents

I wish Latvia a very successful Presidency in the first six months of 2015. I am sure it will be a historic and successful Presidency, Latvia's first, and I look forward to working closely with the Latvian Presidency in the coming months, particularly on the Organics dossier.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

It was a busy start to the first week back in the office after the Christmas break. Monday saw final preparations for my keynote speech to the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Irish Farmers' Association in the National Convention Centre in Dublin. In my speech to the 1,700 delegates present, I addressed a wide range of important issues of relevance not alone to the Irish but also the European agri-food sector.

I acknowledged the central role that Irish agriculture played in modernisation of Ireland since it became a member of the then EEC in 1973. While much of the international focus Ireland receives reflects its status as a European technology hub, Ireland's domestic economy is rooted in agriculture and the agri-food sector. Irish food and drink exports have increased by 40 per cent over the past four years. The sector is now the largest indigenous industry in Ireland employing 167,000 people. Indeed, since the economic downturn we have seen the enormous contribution that agriculture and the agri-food sector have played in rebuilding the economies of a number of those Member States most badly affected. Food production is something that Europe does well and there is enormous potential to grow the European food sector in the coming years.

I also took the opportunity to call for vigilance on input costs for farmers in a general climate of falling commodities prices, particularly in relation to energy. Likewise, I called for a renewed focus on securing a fair margin for farmers in the food chain. The present Supply Chain Initiative at EU level unfortunately still does not cover all relevant actors. I will not hesitate to call for changes so that farmers are not put out of business arising from the squeeze on their margin of profitability. All players in the food chain should realise that it is imperative that producers get a decent return for their raw material. Without producers none of the downstream businesses would even exist.

Wednesday saw the terrible events unfold at the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. Like all right-thinking people, I was horrified by what I saw and heard. I condemn outright this attack not just on the 12 victims, but also on the principle of freedom of speech. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.

On a happier note, I had the opportunity on Wednesday to film a piece to camera to be shown to schoolchildren in Ireland as part of the Civic, Social and Political Education subject. I pointed out the benefits of EU membership for so many people, including the ability to travel cheaply to other member states due to competition in the aviation sector brought about by EU rules, we can make cheap calls and surf the internet freely due to the EU Roaming Regulations, and if anything goes wrong, we can rely on the European Health Insurance Card for emergency healthcare. It is important that we continue to stress the numerous benefits that EU membership deliver on a daily basis to its 500m citizens.

This week was also the first working week of the new Latvian Presidency. I wish Latvia a very successful Presidency in the first six months of 2015. I have already had the pleasure of meeting Minister Jānis Dūklavs and I wish to pay tribute to him and his officials in elaborating a very practical yet ambitious agenda for the Agriculture Council. I am sure it will be a historic and successful Presidency, Latvia's first, and I look forward to working closely with the Latvian Presidency in the coming months, particularly on the Organics dossier.

Wishing you all a successful 2015 and keep up the New Year's resolutions for as long as you can!