In July 2009, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food launched a public consultation process on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post 2013. As part of this process, the Department invited interested parties to submit their views on the range of issues that arise in relation to the future of the CAP. Over 60 submissions were received under this process. These submissions related to general CAP issues. In April 2010, members of the Coordination Committee for the European Network for Rural Development were invited to launch a debate on CAP, specific to Pillar II. In response to this, members of the Monitoring Committee of Ireland’s RDP, members of the Coordination Committee for Ireland’s National Rural Network and all those who had made submissions to Ireland’s earlier consultation process, were invited to make submissions specific to the Rural Development aspects of CAP. Invitations for submissions were also extended to attendees at CAP consultative committees and other RD  communication events.