Unconfirmed reports suggest that some of the appointments could be announced at a meeting of the Bord Bia board which is due to take place in the next couple of weeks.

Informed sources tell me that deputy CEO of Animal Health Ireland David Graham is one of the names being linked with an appointment. Former secretary general of the Department of Agriculture Tom Moran and former IFA president John Bryan are also thought to be "dead certs" to fill two more of the vacant seats but nothing has been finalised as of yet.

For approximately eight months, Bord Bia has been operating with only half a board.

According to the Department of Agriculture’s website on the boards under the “aegis” of the Department, there are still nine vacancies but the board needs only a quorum of four so it can run on a half tank of diesel. There are spaces for 15 to sit on the board including its chairman, Michael Carey.