Newly elected Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has re-appointed Michael Creed as Minister for Agriculture, the Irish Farmers Journal can confirm. Creed has served for little over a year since his appointment last May. The Cork TD did not publicly back either Varadkar or Simon Coveney in the leadership contest.

Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that Minister Creed's priorities would be to prepare negotiations on the next CAP, open overseas markets and implement the FoodWise 2025 growth strategy.

Former Agriculture and Housing Minister Simon Coveney becomes Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, "with a special responsibility for Brexit". The Taoiseach said that his portfolio would include "coordinating the whole government's approach to Brexit", with a goal of "securing the best possible deal for Ireland".

Michael Ring is heading up a new Department of Community and Rural Affairs, which is separated from Heather Humphreys' portfolio. Leo Varadkar said Ring would direct investment to rural areas that have not benefited from the recent economic recovery.

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten retains his portfolio and will oversee the National Broadband Plan "until every premises is connected to high speed broadband," the Taoiseach said. He added that climate change would be the first item on the agenda of the first meeting of the new cabinet: "I'm determined that the government will show new ambition in tackling climate change."

Farm organisations' priorities

“Putting agri food issues top of the EU’s Brexit agenda” is number one on a list of 10 priorities for the new Taoiseach, with IFA president Joe Healy saying he has requested a meeting with Varadkar at the earliest opportunity.

ICSA president Patrick Kent, too, said that the biggest challenge facing the new Taoiseach would be to “deliver a Brexit outcome that protected to the greatest extent possible trade between Ireland and the UK”.

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Creed remains Minister for Agriculture

Simon Coveney will steer Brexit policy at Foreign Affairs; Michael Ring is Minister for Community and Rural Affairs; Denis Naughten remains in charge of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.