Leinster MEP to win prestigious award for promoting agriculture (23/10/08)

October 23, 2008 at 4:20 pm 1 comment

Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Aylward is to be awarded the highest honour France can confer on a foreigner, in recognition of his work to promote agriculture across the EU. The Ireland East MEP will receive the Commandeur Merite Agricole award at a special ceremony in Paris on December 4th.
Mr Aylward, a former Minister of State, won widespread praise for a report he presented to the European Parliament earlier this year outlining a ten point plan to reform the sheep farming sector. He is known as a strong supporter of legislation to fully protect the EU food chain.
French Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier, who will present the award, said Mr Aylward was one of the most highly-respected EU legislators in agricultural affairs. ‘The French government has given this award to him because of the leadership he has shown on key agricultural issues in Europe over the past four years, including leading the way in Europe in reforming the sheep farming sector.’