The Cork Northwest TD is a surprise appointment, having previously been left in the cold since opposing Enda Kenny in the leadership heave of 2010.

Creed was previously the Fine Gael spokesperson on agriculture and was tipped for a potential cabinet position in 2011 but was passed over, failing even to secure a junior ministry. As opposition spokesman on agriculture, Creed impressed with his knowledge of what is a broad and complex brief. He supported the Food Harvest 2020 strategy, introduced by then minister Brendan Smith, beginning a cross-party agreement between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on broad agricultural policy that has survived to this day.

A former dairy farmer, Creed devised the dairy forum along with John Deasy and milked 50 cows up prior to becoming a TD.

After two years on Cork County Council, he was first elected to the Dáil in 1989.

He is from Macroom and is married to Sinead with three children. He is a former member of Macroom Macra na Feirme, a member and former player with Macroom GAA and a member and former captain of Macroom Golf Club.

Well wishes and wish lists

The well wishes came pouring in when the official announcement of cabinet ministers was made this evening.

IFA president Joe Healy congratulated Michael Creed, and said he looked forward to an early meeting to discuss the severe income crisis in farming, adding that he expected “a strong response from the new Minister for Agriculture". Healy called on the new Government to include the €50m earmarked in the programme for government to be divided equally between a new sheep scheme and an increase in ANC funding to be included in the next budget.

ICSA president Patrick Kent also offered his best wishes to the new minister, saying he has “a challenging time ahead, with numerous issues needing urgent attention, most notably the double threat of the Mercosur and TTIP deals and the detrimental effect they pose to the Irish beef industry".

He added that “key issues include the reversing of cuts to disadvantaged areas, a more user-friendly GLAS that delivers real benefits and a dedicated sheep scheme".

Macra na Feirme president Seán Finan welcomed the appointment and said the minister’s focus “must be to ensure the maximum number of young trained people enter farming and the opening of the young farmer National Reserve is an immediate priority for the new minister”.

Creed will be in charge of implementing a wide range of measures for agriculture agreed between Fine Gael and independent TDs in their joint programme for government.

It is expected junior ministers will be announced on Tuesday.

With 70 days of negotiations and four Dáil votes, Enda Kenny was re-instated as Taoiseach Friday afternoon after securing 59 votes for, 49 votes against.

Pat O'Toole contributed reporting for this story

Read more

Cabinet positions decided in new Government

Naughten confirmed as Minister for Communications

As it happened: new cabinet announcement