The Council of the CPBS held its January meeting last night. It was agreed that a memorial service for deceased breeders will be held on the Wednesday of Show week in Clifden. A memorial book will be opened and family members of the deceased are asked to submit their names. The following sub-committees were formed: Breeding Committee - Ciaran Curran, Patrick Keaney, Keith Murray Education Committee - Kevin Bolger, Dermot Power, Andy O'Donoghue Inspection Committee - Jim Mullaney, Gearóid Curran, Keith Murray International Committee - Padraic Heanue, Dermot Power, Andy O'Donoghue Marketing & Promotion Committee - Niamh Philbin, Pierce O'Malley, Jane Andrews, John Varley Performance Committee - Mossie Joyce, Gearóid Curran, Keith Murray Show Committee - Gearóid Curran, Michael Laffey, Ciarán Curran Each committee will submit a written report for circulation in advance of each Council meeting and will also submit their annual plan and budget for the February meeting on Monday 9th February. The Council agreed that the chairperson of the Memorandum and Articles committee (Jerry Mahon) will also act as compliance officer, whose role will be to ensure the Society's compliance with National and EU legislation. A unanimous decision was made to celebrate the Golden Jubilee anniversary of the Danish and Swedish Societies during Show week. The CPBS is keen to acknowledge the support these Societies have given Connemara and the Connemara pony over the last fifty years. A review committee was set up to look at every aspect of the inspections and classification system. It is anticipated this review will be completed by the end of June. A seperate committee will be formed to look at every aspect of Show week. The following people having passed a recent exam were added to the Working Hunter and Ridden Judges Lists: Kathy Geoghegan-Curley (WH  & Ridden) Pascal Crawford (WH & Ridden) Nicholas Byrne (WH & Ridden) Claire Lowe (WH & Ridden) Grace Murphy (WH & Ridden) Jane Somerville (Ridden) Sarah Jane Sinnott (Ridden) Laura McWeeney (Ridden) Patricia Hoey (Ridden) James McWeeney (Ridden) Ruth McGovern (Ridden) Edwina O'Connor (Ridden)   Prior to the Council meeting two Department of Agriculture officials met with the full Council for an open discussion and answered all questions raised regarding classification, funding, the studbook licence and rare breed status. They communicated their satisfaction with the CPBS and it's compliance with equine legislation. The Council thanked them for their continued support of the CPBS.