Minister Simon Coveney, first elected to the Irish Parliament in 1998 and a previous member of the European Parliaöent was appointed Minister in the current Irish Government in March 2011. He will chair the AgriFish Council during Ireland's Presidency of the EU in 2013. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the fundamental policies of the EU and is now entering a critical phase where decisions will be made which will have significant consequences for farmers, consumers and society in general both in Ireland and across Europe. The event on 27 March will provide a stimulating forum for a presentation and discussion on the key issues.