The Irish were out in force this week across Europe. Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed attended the ministerial council in the Netherlands, but he was far from alone.

Obviously European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan was there, as forthright as ever in his views on the key issues.

Alan Jagoe contributed to the discussion around the CAP post 2020 in his capacity as president of CEJA, the European Young Farmers group.

Henry Burns arrived in Eindhoven on Monday to address journalists from all over Europe on more immediate issues, ranging from milk prices to trade deals to Brexit.

On the latter, Henry was asked more than once, always by UK journalists, about how Europe would cope with the UK leaving the EU. He didn’t put a tooth in his response that it would be a disaster for everybody, not least UK farmers.

Meanwhile, IFA president Joe Healy led an IFA delegation to Moscow to discuss fertiliser prices and competition. Unfortunately, there seems to be no improvement in relations between Russia and the EU, and the trade ban seems destined to continue.

Phil Hogan, meanwhile, was heading off to China for the second time in a month, this time for a G20 summit.

Creed seems to have impressed all and sundry, showing a deep grasp of his brief in discussions, and a willingness to advance the Irish perspective.

Simon Coveney had a high standing among his fellow EU farm ministers, particularly for brokering a CAP agreement when Ireland held the presidency of the EU. Creed has made a good early impression, and he will have to continue to be both clear-speaking and yet diplomatic in expressing his views.

Ireland is on the opposite side of the fence to the French and Germans when it comes to the dairy sector, never an easy place to be.

Here’s hoping our football team makes as strong an impression on our fellow Europeans later this month